Postelection complications

Postelection complications

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
is certain to emerge the winner in the June 7 general election.
That, however, is the only thing that is certain so far.
Everything else remains in the dark. For example, Megawati
Soekarnoputri, chairwoman of PDI Perjuangan, can still be
defeated by the parties which have lost.

In the case of the presidency, Megawati, who was named her
party's presidential candidate long ago, could be defeated by
President B.J. Habibie, the presidential candidate of the Golkar
Party, which has lost the elections. The reason is that PDI
Perjuangan is likely to get less than 50 percent of the votes,
which means that the losers can still turn winners if they form a
coalition.

But even if Megawati's party had won an absolute majority, she
might still not become president. The problem is that there
appears to be no connection at all between the general election
and the presidential election. The general election only elects
the people's representatives in the People's Consultative
Assembly, whose decisions do not necessarily run parallel with
the people's aspirations as expressed in the elections.

To avoid complicated debates such as we are having at present,
the 1945 Constitution, which we have, so far, regarded as
inviolate, must be amended. For instance, it should be made clear
that the leader of the winning party should become president, and
these presidential elections should be by the people.

Things would be eased considerably if Golkar, which is far
behind PDI Perjuangan in terms of votes garnered, is willing to
become an opposition party. By doing so, Golkar would be making a
valuable contribution to the current reform drive, and it would
be greeted enthusiastically by the people in the 2004 general
election -- a swift and elegant sacrifice.

And what about Megawati's capabilities? To allow her to prove
herself, let her be president -- the only real test for anyone.

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta