PKB seeks mate for Gus Dur

PKB seeks mate for Gus Dur

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The National Awakening Party (PKB) has started selecting a
potential running mate for Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, the
party's presidential candidate, to contest the July 5
presidential election.

Party chairman Alwi Shihab revealed on Friday that the party
would decide Gus Dur's running mate at a national meeting
scheduled for April 25.

He said that the figures would possibly be taken from
political parties that had gained fewer votes than the PKB.

Preliminary vote counting shows that the parties which may
gain fewer votes than PKB -- and thus might agree to nominate a
running mate for PKB's candidate -- include the United
Development Party (PPP), the Democratic Party, the Prosperous
Justice Party (PKS), and the National Mandate Party (PAN).

"Who knows, Pak Amien (PAN chairman) may even accept this
offer," Alwi told the press here.

Separately, PAN secretary-general Hatta Radjasa said that his
party would help Amien Rais to secure the presidency.

In addition, PKB deputy chairman Mahfud M.D. said that a team
of nine party leaders would select figures before endorsement in
the national meeting.

The nine leaders include Gus Dur and Mahfud, as well as
Muhammad A.S. Hikam and Khofifah Indar Parawansa, who served as
ministers in Gus Dur's cabinet.

The party's vice presidential candidate would have a chance
for the presidency because Gus Dur, who was ousted from
presidency in 2001, would possibly withdraw from the race due to
poor health.

The team would complement the "spiritual" approach taken by
Gus Dur and other Muslim clerics, party officials said.