PDI Perjuangan members told to vote for Megawati

PDI Perjuangan members told to vote for Megawati

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Thousands of supporters of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) pledged on Saturday to back the
reelection of chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri as president next
year.

The PDI Perjuangan supporters voiced their support during a
gathering in the Central Java city of Pemalang to commemorate the
party's 30th anniversary.

Accepting their "pledge of loyalty" was Taufik Kiemas, a
senior PDI Perjuangan member and Megawati's husband.

"We are optimistic that Bu Mega will be reelected in the
upcoming election," Taufik told the party supporters as quoted by
Antara

The term "pledge of loyalty" dates back to the Soeharto era,
when it was often used ahead of elections to demonstrate support
for political parties in different regions.

PDI Perjuangan was the top vote getter in the 1999 general
election with 40 million votes, or 34 percent of the total
ballots cast.

In his speech, Taufik urged party members to prepare for the
elections in 2004 and to make Megawati their choice.

Indonesia will see its fist ever direct presidential election
next year.

However, some recent events have pointed toward a possible
flagging of support for Megawati and her administration.
Antigovernment protests by students have continued to take place
since they began last January, prompted by the government's
decision to hike fuel prices and forgive bad debtors who owe
billions of dollars to the state.

Taufik dismissed such worries. He said there was no reason for
pessimism as PDI Perjuangan was still the largest party in the
country.

Asked about the possible competition for Megawati, Taufik
answered: "There is none, and that's not a boast."

But he added that PDI Perjuangan would likely have to form a
coalition with parties like Golkar and the National Awakening
Party to strengthen Megawati's chances for reelection.

In Jakarta, political analysts predicted it would take two
rounds for a presidential candidate to win an absolute majority.

The analysts say the likely winners of the first round are
Megawati, Amien Rais, the chairman of the National Mandate Party
(PAN), and Muslim scholar Nurcholis Madjid.

Speaking at a public discussion on Saturday, political
analysts Irman Gusman, Nugroho and Rizal Mallarangen said Islamic
groups would likely back Nurcholis and Amien, making them a tough
pair for Megawati to defeat.

Megawati lost the presidency in 1999 to Muslim figure
Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, despite her party's dominance of the
legislature.

The politically aloof Nurcholis surprised the nation with his
announcement last week that he was willing to run for the
presidency.

But to contest the presidency, Rizal said, Nurcholis must join
a political party, something he has been reluctant to do in the
past.

The analyst said the most likely political vehicle for
Nurcholis was the country's second largest party, Golkar, whose
current chairman has been convicted on corruption charges.

Another possible candidate is Golkar member Jusuf Kalla. A
South Sulawesi businessman and the coordinating minister for
people's welfare, Jusuf was tipped as a possible presidential
candidate after his success in bringing to an end sectarian
conflicts in Maluku and Central Sulawesi. He enjoys a great deal
of support in eastern Indonesia.