Wiranto gets thumbs down for his VP nomination: Experts
Wiranto gets thumbs down for his VP nomination: Experts
By Novan Imam Santosa
JAKARTA (JP): Observers gave a thumbs down to Golkar's
nomination of Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Wiranto as
a vice presidential candidate, saying he would be more of a
liability than an advantage to his running mate.
They noted that as chief of the military, which is currently
facing a tremendous credibility problem, Wiranto's selection to
the second highest executive post would not breed national or
international confidence.
"Wiranto's nomination will only provide liabilities rather
than advantages to the presidential candidates," political
analyst A.S. Hikam told The Jakarta Post.
Hikam argued that the next president and vice president should
focus on repairing the nation's battered economic and political
state. As such, regaining confidence was a fundamental necessity.
"We have to acquire international trust by nominating an
acceptable person for the vice presidency," he said.
Golkar Party chief Akbar Tanjung has said that he has
approached Gen. Wiranto about becoming incumbent B.J. Habibie's
running mate.
Akbar said it was Habibie himself who chose Wiranto. However
Wiranto has not publicly accepted or rejected the nomination.
Hikam described Habibie's selection as a desperate attempt to
win support from the military which has 38 seats in the People's
Consultative Assembly.
"Other presidential candidates, Megawati Soekarnoputri and
Abdurrahman Wahid, are unlikely to take Wiranto as their vice
president," he said.
"Should we have to choose a military personnel for the vice
president, it's better to have someone who is more acceptable to
the international community," said Hikam, citing National
Resilience Institute governor Lt. Gen. Agum Gumelar and TNI Chief
of Territorial Affairs Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as
qualified candidates.
Hikam remarked that the reputation of a vice presidential
candidate should not be linked to high profile cases such as the
Trisakti and Semanggi shootings, East Timor or even related to
Soeharto.
He further questioned Wiranto's political prowess, contending
that the TNI chief may only command authority if he maintains his
current post.
Should Gen. Wiranto run or be elected vice president, he would
most likely have to resign his post.
"Once he steps down, he no longer has the military power," he
stated further, referring to widely circulated rumors that
Wiranto might step down on Oct. 5.
Political analyst Arbi Sanit supported Hikam's view, saying
Wiranto's nomination as vice president would create burdens for
his running mate.
"Both Habibie and Wiranto each have problems in gaining public
trust," Arbi said.
Each candidate is a burden to the other and they don't have
sufficient support from the Indonesian public, he added.
However, Arbi admitted that Habibie gained some notoriety, at
least in the international forum, by allowing East Timor to hold
a ballot.
Nevertheless, in Arbi's opinion the Habibie-Wiranto
combination was likely to falter and receive little support from
other political elements.