Megawati told to focus on next presidential election

Megawati told to focus on next presidential election

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): Megawati Soekarnoputri's
withdrawal from the race for the top post in the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) will not affect her
chances in the next presidential race, a party executive said on
Friday.

PDI Perjuangan deputy secretary-general Haryanto Taslam said
at a cadres meeting here that the party's support for Megawati's
presidential bid remained intact even though she no longer held
the party's top post.

"We'll be persistent in nominating Ibu Mega as the country's
next president, because it is the unaccomplished mandate of the
1998 party congress," Haryanto said.

The party's first congress in Bali two years ago named
Megawati the presidential candidate for the 1999 to 2004 period.
She lost the election to Abdurrahman Wahid, but was consoled by
winning the vice presidential election.

Haryanto said that it would be in the best interests of the
party if Megawati did not run for a second term as PDI Perjuangan
chairwoman.

"It is better for Ibu Mega not to hold two positions at once.
Now that she is the vice president, it's much more important for
her to focus on the state duties as mandated to her by the
people," he said.

"And if Megawati is successful in her service as the vice
president, it will help pave her way to the presidential seat."

Megawati has announced her readiness to be renominated in the
party congress to be held in Semarang from March 26 to March 31.
The congress was originally scheduled for 2003.

Haryanto said that to demonstrate what a professional party
was and to set good example to her constituents, Megawati should
decline another tenure as the party chief.

Earlier, PDI Perjuangan deputy chairman Dimyati Hartono
expressed a similar wish for Megawati to reconsider her
renomination bid in order to avoid the centralization of power.

Dimyati warned that the centralization of power could emulate
the mistakes of former president Soeharto.

Eros Djarot, chief editor of weekly tabloid Detak, has stated
his readiness to be elected and claims to have the support of
Megawati.

PDI Perjuangan won last year's general election with 33.74
percent of the vote and gained 154 House of Representatives
seats. (27/edt)