Gus Dur's support weaker after MPR meeting: Expert

Gus Dur's support weaker after MPR meeting: Expert

JAKARTA (JP): Support for President Abdurrahman Wahid in the
House of Representatives will be severely reduced -- to as little
as 11 percent of its legislators -- after the meeting of the
People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) next week, a noted political
analyst said on Friday.

"This is certainly not enough for Abdurrahman to continue his
leadership, because no leader can survive in power with such
minority support," Andi Malarangeng said during a business
luncheon organized by the Indonesia-Australia Business Council at
Kempinski Hotel.

The President's support at the House will essentially be
reduced to that from his own faction, the National Awakening
Party (PKB), said Andi, who is also senior advisor to the
coordinating minister of political affairs.

While the President will survive the grilling at the MPR
meeting next week, his political position will be highly
vulnerable afterwards, he said.

Abdurrahman will have to lobby other major political parties
to regain their support, reshuffle his economic team, win back
public trust and eliminate elements of uncertainty about his
leadership, Andi said.

He proposed another meeting involving Abdurrahman, Vice
President Megawati Soekarnoputri, MPR chairman Amin Rais and
House of Representative's Speaker Akbar Tandjung.

The four leaders met in Yogyakarta on Tuesday and pledged to
unite to resolve Indonesia's various problems.

Andi said Abdurrahman could spring a surprise and overcome the
problems, just as he sprang a surprise by winning the
presidential election in October.

He said, however, that Abdurrahman should step down from
office if he felt that he could not resolve them. (01)