N. Sumatra gubernatorial candidates to present views
N. Sumatra gubernatorial candidates to present views
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra
The North Sumatra provincial legislative council has picked three
candidates to contend the gubernatorial election scheduled for
May 15.
Of 40 gubernatorial candidates and 33 deputy gubernatorial
candidates, the provincial legislature in its plenary meeting
here selected on Monday incumbent governor T. Rizal Nurdin, chief
of the government prosecutor's high office Chaeruman Harahap and
Amrun Daulay of the Ministry of Social Affairs as gubernatorial
candidates.
Rizal, with his running mate Rudolf Pardede, was nominated by
the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
faction, Chaeruman and his running mate Serta Ginting were
nominated by the Golkar Party faction, and Amrun and his running
mate Baskami Ginting were nominated by the Indonesian Mandate
Party (PAN) faction.
The United Development Party (PPP) and coalition factions with
eight seats in the provincial legislature did not nominate any
candidates, and neither did the Military/Police faction for
reasons of neutrality.
"We have decided not to nominate any candidates, but this does
not mean that we have no one in mind," secretary of the PPP
faction Ali Jabbar Napitupulu said after the plenary session,
which continued until late evening on Monday.
The chairman of the provincial legislative council, Ahmad
Azhari, said the three gubernatorial candidates would be asked to
present their respective vision, mission and programs to
councillors on Wednesday. Based on their presentations, the
councillors are expected to determine which candidate should lead
the province for the 2003-2008 period.
According to the 1999 regional autonomy law, the names of the
gubernatorial and deputy gubernatorial candidates will be sent to
the home minister for approval before the election is held.
The new governor will be elected by the provincial legislative
council, but the final decision rests with President Megawati
Soekarnoputri, who will either approve or reject the governor
elect.
For example, the President decided not to swear in Alzier
Thabranie, governor elect of Lampung, because of his alleged
involvement in several corruption cases there in the past.
Rizal is favored to win the upcoming gubernatorial election
for his second term of office, as he has received the President's
blessing.
Megawati, who also chairs PDI Perjuangan -- the party occupies
30 seats at the provincial legislature -- has instructed the PDI
Perjuangan faction to provide political support for Rizal. Rizal
is considered to have succeeded in maintaining security and order
in the province over the last five years.
The Military/Police and other minor factions were also
expected to support Rizal.
The President, according to close aides, prefers that the
military, rather than a civilian, heads those provinces prone to
security disturbances, in anticipation of the 2004 general
elections.
She has also given her blessing to Tayo Tarmadi, former chief
of the Siliwangi Military Command, to contend the West Java
gubernatorial election, as well as Mardiyanto, former chief of
the Diponegoro Military Command, to govern Central Java for a
second term.
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra
The North Sumatra provincial legislative council has picked three
candidates to contend the gubernatorial election scheduled for
May 15.
Of 40 gubernatorial candidates and 33 deputy gubernatorial
candidates, the provincial legislature in its plenary meeting
here selected on Monday incumbent governor T. Rizal Nurdin, chief
of the government prosecutor's high office Chaeruman Harahap and
Amrun Daulay of the Ministry of Social Affairs as gubernatorial
candidates.
Rizal, with his running mate Rudolf Pardede, was nominated by
the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
faction, Chaeruman and his running mate Serta Ginting were
nominated by the Golkar Party faction, and Amrun and his running
mate Baskami Ginting were nominated by the Indonesian Mandate
Party (PAN) faction.
The United Development Party (PPP) and coalition factions with
eight seats in the provincial legislature did not nominate any
candidates, and neither did the Military/Police faction for
reasons of neutrality.
"We have decided not to nominate any candidates, but this does
not mean that we have no one in mind," secretary of the PPP
faction Ali Jabbar Napitupulu said after the plenary session,
which continued until late evening on Monday.
The chairman of the provincial legislative council, Ahmad
Azhari, said the three gubernatorial candidates would be asked to
present their respective vision, mission and programs to
councillors on Wednesday. Based on their presentations, the
councillors are expected to determine which candidate should lead
the province for the 2003-2008 period.
According to the 1999 regional autonomy law, the names of the
gubernatorial and deputy gubernatorial candidates will be sent to
the home minister for approval before the election is held.
The new governor will be elected by the provincial legislative
council, but the final decision rests with President Megawati
Soekarnoputri, who will either approve or reject the governor
elect.
For example, the President decided not to swear in Alzier
Thabranie, governor elect of Lampung, because of his alleged
involvement in several corruption cases there in the past.
Rizal is favored to win the upcoming gubernatorial election
for his second term of office, as he has received the President's
blessing.
Megawati, who also chairs PDI Perjuangan -- the party occupies
30 seats at the provincial legislature -- has instructed the PDI
Perjuangan faction to provide political support for Rizal. Rizal
is considered to have succeeded in maintaining security and order
in the province over the last five years.
The Military/Police and other minor factions were also
expected to support Rizal.
The President, according to close aides, prefers that the
military, rather than a civilian, heads those provinces prone to
security disturbances, in anticipation of the 2004 general
elections.
She has also given her blessing to Tayo Tarmadi, former chief
of the Siliwangi Military Command, to contend the West Java
gubernatorial election, as well as Mardiyanto, former chief of
the Diponegoro Military Command, to govern Central Java for a
second term.