PDI-P eyes running mate

PDI-P eyes running mate

JAKARTA: The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) will likely select its vice presidential candidate
from another party so as to increase its chances of victory in
the 2004 presidential election.

"Given that the PDI Perjuangan is unlikely to win the general
election with a simple majority, we are considering selecting our
vice presidential candidate from another party so as to garner
more political support and thereby win the election," Pramono
Anung, a deputy to the party's secretary-general, said on
Tuesday.

He further said that the PDI Perjuangan would definitely
nominate President Megawati Soekarnoputri to run in as its
presidential candidate in 2004.

"It's up to Megawati to pick a vice presidential candidate as
her running mate in the election," he added.

The year 2004 will be a historic one for Indonesia as it will
mark the first ever direct presidential election in the nation's
history. --JP