PPP congress haggles over electoral board

PPP congress haggles over electoral board

JAKARTA (JP): Delegates to the congress of the United
Development Party (PPP) last night began deliberating the
formation of the seven-member electoral board that will select
the new party leadership today.

Representatives from the 27 provincial party chapters and 300
regency branches were asked to propose seven names. The board
members are those who obtain the most votes.

Congress officials are expected to announce the composition of
the so called "formatters", which usually consists of senior
party figures, early today.

The composition of the seven-member electoral board dominated
the discussion on the sidelines of the congress, held at the
Pondok Gede Haj Dormitory, where participants spent their day
finalizing documents on future party programs behind closed
doors.

There was much furious activity as power brokers were busy
lobbying support for their candidates and security officers were
on heightened alert in anticipation of any trouble.

Ismail Hasan Metareum, the incumbent chairman from the
Muslimin Indonesia faction and Matori Abdul Djalil, the outgoing
secretary general from Nahdlatul Ulama faction, remained the
strongest candidates. Other chairmanship aspirants, Hamzah Haz
and Cholil Badawi were rarely heard.

Electoral board members were selected by the vote-holding
district chapters' representatives.

Power brokers from the opposing camps were trying to pull as
many vote holders as possible into their fold to pave their
nominee's way to the top.

The tight competition between Matori and Ismail Hasan raised
concern among some participants and observers that they might
face the worst case scenario -- a congressional deadlock, which
would inevitably invoke government's intervention.

Such a standoff occurred in PPP's last congress in 1989 when
Ismail Hasan managed to oust his predecessor, H.J. Naro, only
with great difficulty. The subsequent government's intervention
resulted in the disappearance of outspoken politicians on the
original list of new leadership.

Although PPP formally shunned government's meddling in its
internal affairs, board members always consult their choices with
government officials, usually the Minister of Home Affairs, for
endorsement.

Upper hand

If things go as planned, the names of the new PPP's executive
board will be announced before the congress is closed by Vice
President Try Sutrisno at 19.30 p.m. today.

In Monday's session, Ismail Hasan got the upper hand with
support from 17 provincial chapters with Matori only taking two.
However, observers said the final result will be largely
determined by the composition of the electoral board.

Ismail Hasan's camp crowed yesterday that he had backing from
not only the MI faction but also from Syarikat Islam and NU,
making his chances of retaining his post almost certain.

In his bid to galvanized popular support, he met with
representatives from various provinces yesterday.

In the latest development, H.M. Dault, a lawyer-turned
politician, dropped his ambition to enter the party chairmanship
race and lent his support to Matori.

"I'm optimistic Matori will emerge as the winner because he
has support from at least 250 branches," he said.

Meanwhile, Matori's claim that he had the endorsement from
Idham Khalid, an influential NU ulema now a member of the Supreme
Advisory Council, backfired.

Idham reportedly denied the claim and Matori, whose strongest
support came from ulemas, became a laughing stock among his
political foes.(par/pan)