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.