There must be more than one VP candidate: Academician
There must be more than one VP candidate: Academician
JAKARTA (JP): Political scientist Maswadi Rauf of the
University of Indonesia has suggested that the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR) and the elected president offer more
than one vice presidential candidate, but asked them to show
wisdom in choosing the right person.
"That's what the consultative meeting between the Assembly and
the elected president is for. None of the parties should use
force during the consultation," Maswadi said in a discussion
Saturday.
He said the current procedures to elect a vice president did
not need changing because so far the Assembly and the elected
president have managed to accommodate each other.
"The elected president must be flexible and accommodate the
MPR, while MPR members must also be flexible. Their statesmanship
will be tested here," he said.
"Of course, the president must be able to cooperate with the
vice president... in the future we can consider a package system
where the MPR is expected to nominate both a president and vice
president at one time," he said.
Under the current system, the People's Consultative Assembly
elects a president, who is then expected to choose a vice
president on consultation with the Assembly.
It has been a foregone conclusion that President Soeharto will
be renominated and eventually reelected for another term of
office. Speculation is now on who will be the next vice
president.
Among those who have been mentioned as suitable 1998/2003 vice
president material are incumbent Vice President Try Sutrisno,
State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie, State
Minister of National Development Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita
and Minister of Defense Edi Sudradjat.
Some people have suggested that the Assembly offer more than
one vice presidential candidate, and that they be elected by
voting.
No voting
On Friday, however, Armed Forces (ABRI) Chief of
Sociopolitical Affairs Lt. Gen. M. Yunus Yosfiah said voting
should not be used in next year's vice presidential election.
Instead, the people's representatives should elect the vice
president by deliberation to reach consensus on only one name.
"I hope there will be no voting, although it is lawful, in the
vice presidential election," he said after opening a
Sociopolitical Course for ABRI officers at the Armed Forces Staff
and Command School in Bandung, West Java.
"Our political system prefers consensus to voting in reaching
an agreement," he was quoted by Antara as saying.
He said voting should only be used when it is "crucial".
Former vice president and current chairman of the presidential
advisory team on state ideology Pancasila propagation (BP-7),
Sudharmono, said Thursday that voting should be considered an
alternative if the Assembly had more than one name each for the
presidency and vice presidency.
Yunus, who is also chairman of the Armed Forces faction at the
Assembly, said he believed all factions would prefer to establish
consensus in the election. He also promised to do his best to
persuade the other factions in the Assembly to agree on only one
name.
"I have talked to leaders of other MPR factions and there is a
tendency that they will elect the vice president through
consensus." He said this was because "they are now more
politically mature".
"You can see that there has been no 'walk-outs' in the MPR
meeting sessions. They (legislators) are now more accommodating
and communicative," said the three-star general.
He also said the Armed Fores headquarters had received
letters, from individuals and groups, showing their support for
certain candidates. (prb/amd/imn)