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)