PDI-P considers entering VP fray

PDI-P considers entering VP fray

JAKARTA (JP): The General Session of the People's Consultative
Assembly will end on Thursday with the vice presidential
election, in which the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
could win a consolation pride.

But hours after a bitter loss of Megawati Soekarnoputri in the
contest for the country's top job to underrated Abdurrahman Wahid
on Wednesday, PDI Perjuangan leaders had not yet named a
candidate for the second highest post.

The party's deputy chairman, Dimyati Hartono, and his
colleague Sophan Sophiaan said the party was still discussing the
topic and trying to decide upon the right choice.

"We haven't decided whether we will rely on Megawati once
again," Dimyati said after President Abdurrahman took the oath of
office. "Megawati herself hasn't say anything about this."

Sophan concurred, saying: "We have never talked about aspiring
to the vice presidency. Our original target was winning the
presidency."

There were indications from PDI Perjuangan's ally, the
National Awakening Party (PKB), and the Golkar Party that they
might hand the post to Megawati or whoever joined the final race
on behalf of PDI Perjuangan.

"We will not contest the vice presidential election but will
give the opportunity to other parties," PKB chairman Matori Abdul
Djalil said. He refused to disclose which party the PKB would
support until the list of candidates was announced.

The chief of the PKB faction in the Assembly, Yusuf Muhammad,
said that instead of running for the vice presidency, his faction
would just set criteria that a candidate must meet.

"It is important for the candidate, for example, to be
cooperative, have a perspective on economic matters and receive
broad support," Yusuf said.

The Golkar Party, meanwhile, named its chairman Akbar Tandjung
as its candidate for the vice presidency, although Akbar said he
wished the party would relinquish the post to other parties,
including PDI Perjuangan.

"I told Golkar members that my present position as the House
speaker is very highly respected, particularly in this democratic
era. But they insisted that Golkar must pick a candidate and
asked me to run for the vice presidency.

"I'm complying with their demand because all 186 faction
members support me."

It became clear that PDI Perjuangan voted for Akbar in the
House speakership election early this month.

Akbar said he met Abdurrahman, better known as Gus Dur,
recently and the Muslim leader told him he would need someone
with experience in the government if he was elected president.

"Gus Dur told me that time he would be happy if I would be
willing to help him govern the country," he said.

The United Development faction confirmed later in the day that
it would contest the vice presidential election, and nominated
its chairman, Hamzah Haz.

"We have mandated chairman Hamzah Haz to run for the vice
presidency and approach our allies grouped in 'the axis force' to
help him win," party functionary Ali Hardi Kiayidemak said as
quoted by Antara.

The Assembly again broke a ruling it endorsed on Tuesday by
delaying the deadline for registration of vice presidential
candidates until 7 a.m. on Thursday. The election will take place
three hours after the deadline for registration.

Many have said the vice president will play a pivotal role,
not only due to Abdurrahman's physical limitations, but because
of his mere symbolic status. Abdurrahman has sought every avenue
to regain his eyesight, including medical treatment in Europe and
the United States.

Political analyst Salim Said said Abdurrahman would need a
vice president with various capabilities, including managerial
skills.

"The vice president should cover what Gus Dur falls short of,
particularly physical abilities. He or she must be more active
than Gus Dur," Salim said.

He suggested that the Assembly elect a civilian for the vice
presidency, instead of a military person.

"Indonesian Military chief Gen. Wiranto may rejoin the race,
but I think the military will be needed to deal with security
affairs. Gen. Wiranto is needed to help the TNI consolidate and
restore its image," he said.

Wiranto officially rejected the offer to be Habibie's vice
presidential running mate on Monday, a day before the Assembly
voted against Habibie's accountability speech. (02/05)