PBB, PPP to designate vice presidential nominees
PBB, PPP to designate vice presidential nominees
JAKARTA (JP): While the fate of embattled President
Abdurrahman Wahid is still far from sealed, the United
Development Party (PPP) and the Crescent Star Party (PBB) are
already preparing to forward vice presidential candidates to
partner Megawati Soekarnoputri.
Legislators from both parties acknowledged that they were
actively taking this step, but would not reveal who their
candidates might be.
Ali Marwan Hanan, the secretary-general of PPP, said that
"PPP, as an old party", always has personnel ready for all
positions in the executive body.
"Our party's main target is to take power and to occupy the
presidential and vice presidential positions," he said in a
discussion here on Friday.
When pressed to name the party's vice presidential candidate,
Ali replied: "In line with eastern culture, it's unethical to
name our candidate because the special session has yet to be held
and it is uncertain whether the President's accountability will
be accepted or not."
Asked if PPP chairman Hamzah Haz was the likely candidate, Ali
merely said the party would wait for the appropriate time before
making an announcement. But he said PPP ha begun lobbying other
parties to secure support for their nominee.
Meanwhile M.S. Kaban, the secretary-general of PBB, hinted
that PBB would nominate party chairman Yuzril Ihza Mahendra for
the vice presidential post if Abdurrahman was removed from
office.
Kaban said the nation would need a strong vice president if
Megawati took over the presidency.
"The next government will face ample problems since Gus Dur
has achieved little during his 19 months in power," he said,
referring to the President by his nickname.
The Golkar Party chairman Akbar Tandjung said his party would
not nominate a vice presidential candidate, noting that the party
was focusing on the 2004 general election.
"Golkar will not nominate a vice presidential candidate
because we are busy consolidating for the 2004 elections," he
said.(rms)