Megawati refuses to endorse new governor
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
President Megawati Soekarnoputri has refused to endorse Alzier Dianis Thabranie as the new governor of Lampung, pending his graft trial.
Lampung legislative council speaker Abbas Hadisunyoto said here on Thursday that Megawati's stance on Alzier was relayed to him by Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno.
"The president is still reluctant to endorse Alzier's governorship, because his court case has not yet been settled," Abbas was quoted by Antara as saying after a meeting with Hari.
Abbas said he had written to Megawati seeking a meeting with her to discuss Alzier's inauguration, but the president responded by requesting that he consult the home minister, who reported the results of the discussion to her.
Hari was not available for comment on the issue, but he has said there are plans to hold another gubernatorial election.
Abbas has said the council would oppose the government if it suggested a revote for the new Lampung governor.
"No. That will never be an option," he said.
He argued that to date, the council had continued to recognize Alzier as the rightfully elected governor of Lampung.
Alzier and his running mate Ansyari were elected by the council on Dec. 30, 2002 as governor and deputy governor, respectively, for a five-year term.
They won 39 votes to defeat the pairing of then incumbent governor Oemarsono and Syamsuryacudu, who grabbed only 33 votes.
Alzier should have been sworn in to his new post on Jan. 25, 2003, but Megawati, who backed Oemarsono's reelection bid, refused to issue a decree to approve his governorship.
Police instead arrested Alzier and laid corruption charges against him. He is now facing trial for graft in Bandarlampung, the province's capital city.
The governor-elect is also charged with falsifying his diploma to contest the gubernatorial election.
As the chairperson of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), Megawati had also ousted Alzier from party membership, as he had defied her order to support Oemarsono and instead nominated himself for the governorship.