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.