Aburizal Allows Golkar Members to be VP Candidate

Makassar, South Sulawesi (Antara) - It is okay for any Golkar party executive board member to run for vice president, as it will not disrupt the party's work mechanism, stated the General Chairman of Golkar Party, Aburizal Bakrie. "For Golkar it is alright. Any of them can go ahead if they wish to run for vice president. It will not disrupt anything," he informed newsmen during a trip from Makassar in South Sulawesi to Jakarta on Tuesday. ARB commented this in connection with the statement of the party's chairman of the advisory board, Akbar Tanjung, about his readiness to be nominated by other parties as a presidential candidate. He explained that Akbar had indeed told him that a political party had offered him the post and that he had expressed his readiness for it, though it did not mean that Akbar has declared it. "That is the report that I have received so far," he remarked. ARB added that it would be all right for Golkar if anyone wished to run for vice president. Regarding possibilities of efforts by certain quarters to divide Golkar, ARB asserted that he did not deny it. "It is possible depending on the interpreters. For me it is a normal thing," he declared. He added that any cadre's declaration as vice presidential candidate by other party will be Golkar's external matter. For the presidential election on July 9, Golkar has nominated ARB as its presidential candidate. Golkar however, has not yet decided on his running mate. Golkar pointed out that his running mate will be decided after the results of the legislative elections on April 9 are declared. The results of the legislative elections will determine whether or not a political party is eligible to nominate its own presidential or vice presidential candidates or whether it has to coalesce with other parties for their nomination. Golkar Party has been considered as one of the 12 election participants that will win big votes in the elections. (*) Reporting by Ahmad Wijaya