Habibie's performance determines Golkar's fate

Wed, 19 May 1999

In anticipating the strategies that political parties will be using in their campaigns which start today, it is not difficult to foretell that the issue of corruption, collusions and nepotism, including by ex-president Soeharto, will be among the main themes they will be using to assail Golkar. A People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) decree regarding this matter dictates that firm measures be taken against any offender without exception, including former president Soeharto.

Another point concerns the problem of public security, which also has not been satisfactorily established. It must be said that the security authorities have tried to overcome the unrest in several regions -- with rather satisfactory results even though there have been rather frequent recurrences in some regions.

With Habibie's nomination as Golkar's sole presidential candidate, it will depend on his performance, both as president and as an individual citizen, whether or not his appointment will be able to boost Golkar's votes in the upcoming elections. Habibie's personal image can no longer be separated from that of Golkar.

-- Suara Karya, Jakarta

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