PDI Perjuangan discusses gubernatorial candidates
PDI Perjuangan discusses gubernatorial candidates
Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Jakarta city chapter of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) conducted a special meeting on Saturday
to discuss its nominations for the gubernatorial election on
Sept. 11.
The meeting, which took place at Hotel Radin, Ancol, North
Jakarta, secured 11 names from the party's five mayoralty
branches and the new Kepulauan Seribu regency.
Chapter secretary Maringan Pangaribuan said the party would
select five of the 11 nominees to be handed to the party's
central board, which is chaired by President Megawati
Soekarnoputri, on Monday.
Among the 11 nominees, five of them secured majority votes of
the branches, but it remains to be seen if their names would be
selected.
They are city chapter chairman Tarmidi Suhardjo, the party's
central board deputy chairman Roy BB Janis, councillors Audi I.Z
Tambunan and Totok Ismunandar, and the son of former Jakarta
governor Ali Sadikin, who is also active in the party.
Tarmidi, who is also the city council's deputy chairman, was
reportedly named a suspect in a controversial trip abroad, dubbed
Ancolgate. He had received US$5,000 and Rp 50 million from PT
Pembangunan Jaya Ancol in travel allowances, but did not join the
trip.
Tarmidi hoped that the central board, especially Megawati,
could choose one candidate by Wednesday.
"I hope Wednesday, the central board could decide the definite
candidate," Tarmidi said after the meeting, which was attended by
the central board's deputy secretary, Pramono Anung.
However, several executives of the branches said that they
preferred that the party support the incumbent Governor Sutiyoso
for reelection.
"What's most important is a commitment that Sutiyoso would
help PDI Perjuangan to win the 2004 general elections," one of
the executives, who asked for anonymity, told reporters outside
the meeting hall.
He suggested that it would be better if Tarmidi was nominated
as Sutiyoso's deputy governor, to give him time to study the
administration.
"We could dismiss Sutiyoso after the 2004 election. It's
politics," he said.
Sutiyoso, who was the Jakarta Military Commander, reportedly
had secured "a green light" from Megawati to run for the second
five-year term.
Besides Sutiyoso, the current Deputy Governor for Social
Welfare Affairs Djailani and City secretary Fauzi Bowo are
reportedly nominated as strong governor candidates.
The gubernatorial election would be determined by the city's
83 councillors. The PDI Perjuangan, the largest party, with its
30 seats would play a significant role in the elections.