Golkar yet to decide on its presidential candidate
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)