Habibie's performance determines Golkar's fate

Habibie's performance determines Golkar's fate

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