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