Is the Golkar party solid?

Is the Golkar party solid?

From Media Indonesia

On Aug. 15, the Golkar Party officially announced its support for presidential candidate Megawati Soekarnoputri and her running mate Hasyim Muzadi in the Sept. 20 runoff.

Since the decision was announced, Golkar leaders have ordered their local chapters across the country to tell party supporters to abide by the decision.

As predicted by some analysts, the Golkar party has decided it is preferable to enter into a coalition with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) than support presidential candidate Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his running mate Jusuf Kalla.

For the members of the Golkar elite, especially those from the old guard, it is safer to support the PDI-P because, as many people say, the Susilo-Kalla camp is pro-reform.

The question now, however, is whether the decision will be effective or not. If we take a look at the first round of the presidential election, many Golkar members felt they were not obliged to abide by the decision of the party convention to nominate Wiranto for the presidency.

Also, it was clear that many strong Golkar areas in which Golkar won hands down in the April 5 legislative elections, failed to support the party candidate in the first round of presidential election.

So, it is quite likely that the decision will split the Golkar party.

HANIBAL Jakarta