Lawmaker says a lack of clear criteria for a presidential candidate are causing problems
Marzuki Alie, the deputy chairman of the Democratic Party board of patrons, has criticized the party’s convention committee, saying it does not understand what the ruling party is seeking in its 2014 presidential candidate.
The lawmaker warned that he would reconsider taking part if committee members — tasked with nominating a presidential candidate — did not take their job seriously.
“The committee doesn’t have a clear idea on the criteria required from participants,” Marzuki was quoted as saying by Tempo.co, on Wednesday.
The committee, consisting of 17 people — seven party members and 10 independents — and led by former Minister of Religious Affairs M. Maftuh Basyuni has so far received expressions of interest from 20 people considering joining the convention as a potential candidate.
But Marzuki said the committee, set up by the Democratic Party’s board of patrons, needed to identify both general and specific criteria for potential candidates before they are invited to participate in the party convention.
He said the general criteria ought to be that participants be Indonesian citizens and have a minimum education standard, while the specific criteria be that the participants give full support to the drive against corruption and have an understanding of the importance of diversity.
“The committee must look at their track records before inviting them to become participants,” Marzuki said.
Speaking on Wednesday, committee spokesman Rully Charis said that members of the committee planned to meet that evening to discuss the track records and leadership qualities of the 20 people who have stated their interest, before they decide whether they qualify for the convention.
Rully said that those considered qualified will be invited on Aug. 29 or 30 to introduce themselves.
“The committee will make an internal decision on the people who qualify to join the convention on Aug. 31 and they will be announced officially to the public on Sept. 15,” Rully said.
Taufiqurrahman Ruki, the committee’s deputy chairman, said the Democratic Party needed an estimated Rp 50 billion ($4.6 million) to hold the convention.
“Based on my own calculation with the treasurer, the budget [for the convention] should not be more than Rp 50 billion,” Ruki said.
He added that the budget will be covered by the Democratic Party itself because the convention is a formal party activity. But he said the party might also accept donations.
He said that accepting donations from the public would complicate the process because the committee has to verify the source and motivation for the donations.
Ruki said the committee had not yet received funding from the party, but that this had not prevented committee members from working, adding that they were meeting in a room in the office of Sugeng Sarjadi, a committee member.
“We still cannot make any concrete move because there is no funding yet. But as long as activities can still be carried out without the funds, we will continue to work,” Ruki said.
An source, who declined to be named, told the Jakarta Globe that the party had already picked 12 people to take part in the convention, including Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan.
Gita has long stated his interest in joining the convention and received an informal invitation from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is also the party’s chairman. Gita has previously said he would be happy to participate.
“Thank God, the more the merrier because that will make it democratic,” the trade minister said.
Other people who have expressed interest in taking part are State Enterprises Minister Dahlan Iskan, former Constitutional Court chief justice Mahfud M.D., Regional Representatives Council speaker Irman Gusman, Ambassador to the United States Dino Patti Djalal, businessman Chairul Tanjung, Lion Air boss Rusdi Kirana and Migrant Worker Placement and Protection Agency chairman Jumhur Hidayat.
With the lack of a clear internal candidate, many senior Democrats have been seeking an outsider to run for office. Attempts by Yudhoyono, who is barred by the Constitution from running in next year’s ballot, to groom a successor from within the party appear to have failed. The timing of the convention has not been revealed.
By:Novianti Setuningsi, Markus Junianto Sihaloho & Ezra Sihite
Source:http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/marzuki-slams-dems-convention-body/
