PAN split wider as co-founder tenders his resignation
PAN split wider as co-founder tenders his resignation
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Internal conflict within the National Mandate Party (PAN) has
risen to new level with the resignation of co-founder and current
legislator Fuad Bawazier.
Fuad, who helped found PAN in 1998, said over the weekend he
was considering a jump to the up-and-coming Prosperous Justice
Party (PKS) or the establishment of a new party, Antara reported.
"PAN has abandoned its characteristic democracy," Fuad said
when announcing his departure.
He said he had tendered his resignation and returned his
party's membership card on July 28.
Copies of his resignation letter had also been sent to the
President, the House of Representatives (DPR) speaker and
People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) speaker, as well as the
General Elections Commission (KPU).
Cracks had been visible within PAN when Fuad, a finance
minister in the last Cabinet of authoritarian president Soeharto,
who stepped down in 1998, failed to win support from outgoing
leader Amien Rais in the race for the party's leadership this
past April. Amien's hanpicked candidate, Sutrisno Bachir, beat
Fuad in the party's internal election.
Following his defeat, the dejected Fuad expressed suspicions
of vote-rigging. He also hinted that he would leave the party.
Fuad, who is also a businessman, said on Saturday he would
remain a member of the DPR, pending the issuance of a
presidential decree on his replacement.
He said PAN had violated its own democratic principles after
its central board issued a decree dated July 22, which bans
provincial chapter members from electing regional executives who
go against Jakarta's policy.
"What's an election of regional executives for if they require
the central board's approval," Fuad said.
Fuad warned that the waning democracy would adversely affect
PAN's performance in the next legislative and presidential
elections in 2009.
He also criticized PAN for conforming to the Golkar Party in
debates on crucial matters at the House.
He cited the move by some legislators to demand an
investigation into an alleged lending scam involving state-run
Bank Mandiri as an example.
"The motion failed, partly because of PAN's lackluster support
after being influenced (to oppose the probe) by Golkar," said
Fuad, who is a former Golkar member.
PAN surprised many with its debut success in the 1999 national
election, winning 7.53 million votes and gaining 34 DPR seats.
Its leader Amien Rais became the MPR speaker and played a pivotal
role in helping Abdurrahman Wahid secure his presidency later in
1999.
In the last legislative election in 2004, PAN managed to get
7.3 million votes. Amien then lost out in the first round of the
ensuing presidential election.