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Golkar to tighten criteria for chairmanship
The Golkar Party has ruled that candidates running for the leadership of the party must face a fit and proper test and provide a written statement of support from branch heads at the national congress in October
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he Golkar Party has ruled that candidates running for the leadership of the party must face a fit and proper test and provide a written statement of support from branch heads at the national congress in October.
The party's steering committee agreed Tuesday that candidates wishing to run for the leadership position would have to provide signatures as a tangible sign of support from the chairmen and secretaries from at least 30 percent of party branches.
"This way, candidates cannot just claim they have the support *of branch leaders*. They must show official letters signed by the chairman and secretary of a number of branches," Zainal Bintang, a member of Golkar's steering committee, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
He said if a candidate secured support from more than 50 percent of the party branches, they could not automatically claim themselves the winner.
"The candidate must deliver their vision and mission statements through a fit and proper test," he said.
"If the candidate fails to *satisfy' the congress, they will not be eligible for the position, providing those candidates who win around 30 percent of the party branches the opportunity to win over the congress."
Golkar is scheduled to hold its national congress in Pekanbaru, the provincial capital of Riau, between Oct. 4-7.
Replacing incumbent party chairman Vice President Jusuf Kalla, who was defeated in the July presidential election, is high on the agenda for the congress.
So far at least four Golkar members have expressed their intentions to run for the party leadership.
Chief patron of the party and media magnate Surya Paloh is considered a strong contender, as is Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare and Golkar patron board member, Aburizal Bakrie.
Also running are young politician Yuddy Chrisnandy and the controversial Hutomo "Tommy" Manadala Putra, the youngest son of former president Soeharto.
Tommy has not served as a party executive at a regional or provincial level, a key requirement of the leadership candidacy.
Aburizal claims he has secured support from more than 400 regional branches, including 20 provincial branches he won over during a recent intensive campaign period.
Surya claims to have virtually the same levels of support.
"These claims do not add up because there are only 510 party branches," Zainal said.
"They are lying to the public, and suggesting other candidates do not stand a chance."
Though these two candidates both claim to have the support of the provincial and regional branches in East Java and Bali, these offices have not yet announced their preferences.
The East Java provincial branch invited all the candidates to present their goals Wednesday.
"Pak Surya and Yuddy will deliver their statements Wednesday, while Tommy is expected to outline his agenda in Pasuruan on Thursday," deputy chairman of the East Java provincial branch, Mahmud Sarjujono, said.
It is not clear yet when Aburizal will address the branch.
Golkar members predict the contest will come down to between Aburizal and Surya.
Former Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung has openly announced his support for Aburizal, who he believes will take the leadership.
Yuddy has said he has the support of leaders at five provincial and 50 regional branches.
Tommy, who through the course of his campaign for the chairmanship has met with Aburizal and Kalla, claims he has support from branches including those in West Java.
