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Spokesman Refutes Defense Minister's Claim of Wahid's Willingness to Resign
Indonesian President spokesman Wimar Witoelar Wednesday afternoon denied that President Abdurrahman Wahid had intimated his willingness to resign as claimed by Defense Minister Machfud M.D.
"There is absolutely no indication of the possibility of the president resigning. The president has no intention to step down," Wimar said.
In fact, the president had reaffirmed that his plans were to remain in office until the end of his presidential term in 2004, Wimar was quoted by the Antara News Agency as saying.
Wimar made the statement when asked to comment on a statement made by Machfud earlier on Wednesday, quoting the president as saying he had no objections to the criticisms, the House of Representatives (DPR)'s memorandum or the public resignation demands aimed at him if the reasons given were based on the Constitution.
The House issued a memorandum of censure against Wahid on February 1 after its special committee found that the president could be suspected of an involvement in two financial scandals, dubbed "Buloggate and Bruneigate".
Machfud had also said the president could ultimately not resist the demands for his resignation, if the House had proof he had really violated the Constitution.
Wahid earlier in the day held a breakfast meeting with Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri at her official residence where they discussed his written reply to the House's memorandum.
Wahid has three months to reply to the first memorandum and another month to reply if the DPR issues a second censure. If the DPR deems that Wahid's replies to both motions are unsatisfactory, it can then call a special session of the People's Consultative Assembly to start an impeachment process against the president.
Six House factions on March 19 proposed that the second memorandum be sent to the president immediately, arguing he had not shown any change in attitude, policies and habits after receiving the first memorandum.
The factions are the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, the Golkar Party, the United Development Party, the Reform Party, the Crescent and Star Party, and the Persatuan Daulatul Ummah faction.
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