Who wants to be next president, Golkar asks
Who wants to be next president, Golkar asks
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Golkar, the political vehicle of former dictator Soeharto, has
embarked on a national campaign aimed at netting a presidential
candidate to be fielded by the party in the 2004 election.
However, doubts have been mounting over Golkar's sincerity in
holding the exercise as it has been conceived at a time when
party chairman Akbar Tandjung is awaiting a Supreme Court ruling
on his appeal against a three-year jail sentence for corruption.
Should the Supreme Court uphold the verdict, Akbar will be
sent to jail immediately.
Golkar deputy secretary-general Rully Chairul Azwar said all
citizens were invited to submit the names of individuals
considered to have the necessary abilities to bring the country
out of its prolonged economic crisis.
"We are giving a chance to all citizens to nominate, or be
nominated as, a presidential candidate through this convention,"
Rully said.
Golkar, which came second in the 1999 general election, is
encouraging qualified figures to nominate themselves or be
nominated by mass organizations as presidential candidates during
the party's first ever convention, Rully said.
The registration period will run from July 11 through July 30,
2003.
Individuals wishing to run as Golkar's candidate in the 2004
poll, when the country is expected to hold its first ever direct
presidential election, may nominate themselves by producing
documents proving that they are supported by at least 500 people
in five provinces.
The aspirants may also use Golkar-affiliated mass
organizations to nominate and register themselves directly with
the party's registration team. The candidates can also be
nominated through regional chapters of Golkar.
Those wishing to join the race must never have participated in
a secessionist movement, be committed to maintaining the
country's unity, be ready to help Golkar win the 2004 election,
accept Golkar's political platform, and not be nominated by
another political party.
The convention is expected to produce five presidential
candidates, one of whom will be selected as the party's sole
candidate next year.
"If the people think they have the best candidate, please use
the mass organizations to nominate them," Rully said.
Several names have been mentioned as Golkar presidential
candidates, including Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid and media
tycoon Surya Paloh.
Former Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. (ret) Wiranto
and former chief of the Army's Strategic Reserve Command
(Kostrad), Lt. Gen (ret) Prabowo Subianto, have also been tipped
to join the selection process.
Those wishing to participate in the convention have to fill in
the forms and complete all the requirements before their
nominations will be verified.
Aspirants passing the verification stage will then travel to
the regions to present their manifestos to the regional branch
offices of the Golkar Party.
Although the idea of having a convention was originally widely
hailed, many have since speculated that the move is designed to
seek an alternative presidential candidate should the Supreme
Court uphold Akbar Tandjung's conviction.
Nurcholish, who has frequently expressed his readiness to
participate in the Golkar convention, said his biggest rival at
the convention would be Akbar as he was the party chairman.
Akbar refused to answer questions posed by journalists on
Thursday as to whether or not he would stand in the next
election.
Timeline
July 11 - July 30: Registration period; August 7, 2003:
Deadline to return forms and required documents; August 21,
2003: Campaigning in regional branches; Oct. 15, 2003:
Convention at regional levels; Oct. 20, 2003: Each province
selects 5 candidates; Feb. 2004: Final decision.