Politicians welcome Tutut's bid for presidential seat in 2004
Politicians welcome Tutut's bid for presidential seat in 2004
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
State officials and politicians welcomed on Thursday former
president Soeharto's eldest daughter Siti "Tutut" Hardiyanti
Rukmana's plans to run for the presidency in next year's
elections, stressing that democracy allowed anyone to join the
presidential election.
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
Susilo Bambang Yudoyono, who has also been tipped to participate
in the presidential race, said that it should be up to the people
to decide on who is able to contest the elections.
"We should not immediately foresee the return of the old
regime, let the people decide what is best for them," Susilo said
when asked about Tutut's presidential ambition.
Tutut was asked to join next year's presidential race by the
Concern for the Nation Functional Party (PKPB), a party
established by Gen. (ret) Raden Hartono under the order of former
president Soeharto.
The party has passed the General Elections Commission's (KPU)
factual verification and is considered to be eligible to join the
elections in 2004.
Should she formally enter the race, Tutut will be contesting
against incumbent President Megawati Soekarnoputri, a daughter of
founding president Sukarno, in the upcoming 2004 direct election.
Susilo said the people would use their common sense to
determine who was going to be their leader in the future.
"So let the people decide," the minister concluded.
National Mandate Party (PAN) chairman Amien Rais, responded
similarly, saying that in democracy all are welcome to join the
presidential bid.
"There should be no problem as long as they enter the bid with
good programs and not with money politics," Amien said as quoted
by Antara.
Tutut's entry into the presidential race may change the
country's political landscape in the 2004 elections.
Amien played down anxiety, saying that the people were more
intelligent (than that) and would be able to elect the leader
that the country's needed to survive.
Meanwhile, Golkar's deputy chairman Ginandjar Kartasasmita
said Thursday that Tutut's candidacy would pose a new challenge
for Golkar to maintain its constituents.
Tutut served as Golkar deputy chairman from 1993 through 1998
and the party was the main supporter of Soeharto's 32 years of
leadership.
"This should be a challenge for us to maintain our constituent
and it is the right of everybody to join the presidential race,"
Ginandjar said.