Soetrisno set to tender resignation, executive says

The Jakarta Post ,  JAKARTA   |  Thu, 05/07/2009 11:36 AM  |  Headlines

Soetrisno Bachir is considering resigning as National Mandate Party (PAN) chairman, a move that would deal a serious blow to the party already embroiled in an internal rift ahead of the presidential election, a party executive said Wednesday.   

“He is seriously considering resigning, but he is going to wait for the right time to announce it,” PAN's head of research and development Sayuti Asyathri said.

But Sayuti, an ally of Soetrisno, could not confirm whether the PAN chairman would resign completely from the party.  Soetrisno, a businessman, had intensively campaigned himself through billboards and television commercials.

Another PAN executive, Dradjat Wibowo, confirmed rumors about Soetrisno’s resignation were rapidly spreading though the party.

However, Soetrisno himself has yet to officially announce his resignation, added Dradjat, an ally of PAN chief patron Amien Rais.

“If the chairman wishes to resign he has to ... announce an official statement of his resignation,” Dradjat said.

The PAN has been split into two camps — one led by Soetrisno and another by his predecessor Amien, also a former speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly.

The Amien faction wanted the party to support incumbent President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's bid for a second five-year team, a move opposed by Soetrisno, who sought an alliance with SBY's contender Prabowo Subianto in the July 8 presidential race.

The internal rift culminated at a PAN national meeting in Yogyakarta on Saturday, which ended in the Amien camp's favor with the decision to form a coalition with SBY's Democratic Party (PD).
Soetrisno attended the meeting  but left before the  declaration was made.

At an earlier meeting in Jakarta, the PAN central board decided both Soetrisno and Hatta should be proposed as SBY's running mates.

Calling the Yogyakarta meeting undemocratic, the Soetrisno camp plans to stage another leadership meeting in Jakarta on May 9.

Sayuti said Soetrisno now feels uneasy leading the party.

“When he became chairman, he wanted to use the party as a medium to serve the people. But, he is very disappointed that the party is nothing more than just a political instrument now."

Amien was a staunch critic of SBY's policies, particularly on energy and mining. He often demanded a review of contracts of works and revenue sharing with foreign mining investors.

However, Amien has changed his attitude toward SBY since the two met at the President's private residence in Cikeas, Bogor, West Java, a month ago.  

Soon after the meeting with Yudhoyono, Amien gathered senior PAN officials at his residence in Yogyakarta to tell them that the party should support the incumbent President in the upcoming race. (hdt)

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