How to resolve political stalemate

As preparations for the final stage of the first direct presidential election progress, the nation is witnessing a rare and tragic political spectacle -- almost a democratic anomaly -- in which one democratic group is confronting another: A party coalition group against the so-termed people's democracy group. This suggests that a political stalemate could develop to the detriment of national development, toward the end.

Titleholder Megawati Soekarnoputri, from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), and newcomer Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, from the Democratic Party, will enter the ring on Sept. 20. The former will claim she is on the right path to reform but needs more time to succeed, with the latter believing time is running out and immediate changes are urgently called for to combat the nation's ills.

At the moment, nobody is absolutely certain who is going to win the contest. The current theory is that if Megawati carries the day, there will be only small ruffles, as her group commands the majority in the legislature, or, in political terms, some "stability". Unless, of course, there are political demonstrations orchestrated by university students and groups of people extremely dissatisfied with the outcome of the election.

The fact is, only two groupings of similar ideology now remain after the first round. Many simple-minded folk may ask why the two do not shake hands and "sail off together in one ship", thus avoiding a costly confrontation, when both must know that a political stalemate is looming large in the background.

This kind of stalemate may repeat itself in future direct presidential elections run on the same system. To avoid that, surely Indonesia could afford to have one president and two vice presidents, as in the case of some African countries?

Even at this eleventh hour it is not too late for such a "national reconciliation", in which we have two vice presidents who will act as coordinating ministers -- if indeed the leaders' priority is the well-being of the people and not their hunger for power and personal ambition.

GANDHI SUKARDI, Jakarta