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)