Golkar yet to decide on its presidential candidate

JAKARTA (JP): Golkar leaders will assemble here on Saturday for a three-day congress to announce its establishment as a "political party", Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung said on Thursday.

Despite acting like one all along, Golkar has always resisted being called a political party. Instead, it called itself a functional grouping and enjoyed more favorable treatment over the country's two other political parties -- the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) and the United Development Party (PPP) -- under former president Soeharto's New Order regime.

Akbar told a media conference at Golkar headquarters in Slipi, West Jakarta, that the leaders would not discuss whom they would endorse as their candidate for next year's presidential election.

He said Golkar was now busy with preparations for next month's extraordinary session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and the general election next May.

"Golkar has not thought about its presidential candidate yet," he said.

The leadership meeting, scheduled to end on Monday, will be held at the Jakarta Convention Center.

Akbar, who is also Minister/State Secretary, said: "Although Golongan Karya Party (will be) an extension of the old Golkar, its political visions, missions and platforms will (better) carry the aspirations of the people."

Golkar's readiness to become a political party was first announced in an extraordinary Golkar congress last July.

Akbar said the leadership meeting would also be used to disseminate Golkar's new vision and outlook among its leaders.

He said there was no plan to discuss proposals for a direct presidential election system in the meeting.

"It's now impossible to implement such a direct presidential election system because the nation has decided and made preparations for a representative system through the MPR.

"However, a direct presidential election would not be ruled out in the nation's political discourses in the future," he said.

Akbar also said there was no plan to discuss proposals for public debates among presidential candidates.

Commenting on the recent dismissal of 36 Golkar legislators from the House of Representatives (DPR) and five legislators from the Assembly, Akbar said the decision was made independent of any external influence.

"The dismissal of the Golkar legislators was decided in compliance with the organization's internal procedures," he said.

"Negative reactions toward the dismissal should be understood as a logical consequence of a political decision," he added. (imn)