The Golkar party of ex-dictator Suharto was expected to endorse Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri yesterday ahead of the September run-off election, providing a much-needed boost to her struggling campaign.
Megawati finished second behind Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in the July 5 presidential poll and continues to trail her former security minister in opinion polls.
Since neither candidate won 50 percent of the vote, they will contest a Sept. 20 run-off.
Senior Golkar leader Rully Chairul Azwar said the party's executive board began meeting early yesterday and was expected to announce its endorsement later in the day. The party has been part of governing coalitions since 1999.
"I expect the party will support Megawati," Azwar said. "This will give us a strong coalition that ensures a stable parliament and empowers all government institutions in the future."
Some analysts said a Golkar endorsement could be the key to Megawati's victory, as the party commands the most seats in parliament and has a strong political machine that is capable of bringing millions of voters to the poll.
Others, however, say it will make little difference despite top Golkar executives supporting Megawati, as nearly 86 percent of Golkar supporters in a recent poll said they would vote for Yudhoyono compared to only 9 percent for Megawati.
Golkar's efforts to secure the presidency for Megawati come down to the party's desire to wield significant influence in the next government, some analysts said.
While Yudhoyono has rebuffed Golkar demands for ministerial posts if he becomes president, Megawati's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle reportedly has promised it eight of the more than 30 ministerial posts in exchange for the endorsement.
"It's a bad strategy and won't work," said Mohammad Qodari of the Indonesian Survey Institute. "I wonder why they still think like this even after the first round of the presidential election."
The endorsement could also complicate efforts by Megawati to paint herself as a reformist candidate and a fighter for the poor, because Golkar served as Suharto's political machine during his 32-year reign and is still associated with the abuses and corruption of that era.
Yudhoyono, who comes from the small Democratic Party, remains the favorite to take over the world's most populous Muslim nation. His popularity has soared since stepping down as Megawati's security minister in March, partly on perceptions that he is a clean politician and a strong leader.
The 54-year-old retired general has capitalized on voter anger over the president's aloof leadership as well as her failure to eradicate poverty, rein in corruption and improve the economy.
He also has benefited from his outspoken support of the US-led war on terrorism. Indonesian militants have launched a string of bombings in recent years, including the Oct. 12, 2002 Bali blasts which killed 202 people, mostly foreign tourists.
A poll by the Indonesian Survey Institute released last month found 68.1 percent of voters preferred Yudhoyono in the second round compared with 22.9 percent for Megawati. Nine percent were undecided.
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