TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Several officials of Golkar Party in regions have asked the party's chairman, Aburizal Bakrie –also popular as Ical- to abort his presidential candidacy mission due to the lack of votes the party had received in the legislative election. The officials suggested that Ical should run for vice president instead of president.
"In order to win, Golkar should consider promoting vice president instead of president," said Wisno Suhardno, the Golkar regional chief for Central Java, to Tempo yesterday.
The similar view was expressed by Golkar regional chief for North Sumatra and West Sulawesi, Ajib Shah and Anwar Adnan Saleh. Ajib Shah said that the meeting with 25 regional officials on Monday night has seen that Ical is no longer suitable to run for presidency.
"If [he runs] for vice president bid, we are ready to give supports," said Ajib.
Ical and Prabowo met on Monday but there wasn't any confirmation regarding the coallition after the meeting. Voices from the Golkar internal body have indicated that there is various opinion regarding to who should be the candidate for vice president if the party is to change maneuver.
Meanwhile, the Research Director of Saiful Mujani Research & Consulting, Jayadi Hanan, said that it would be odd if Golkar lower its bid, since the party had garnered more votes than Gerindra party in the legislative election. He also said that even if Ical joins Prabowo as running mate, it will not increase the ex-general’s electability.
WAYAN AGUS PURNOMO | INDRA WIJAYA | ROFIUDDIN | TRI SUHARMAN
