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Hopes for Speedy Recovery Mounts as Megawati Takes Presidency
Hopes for a speedy economic recovery process have been mounting in Indonesia on Monday as Megawati Soekarnoputri was sworn in as the country's new president replacing Abdurrahman Wahid who was sacked by the country's highest law-making body of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).
Many legislators were also optimistic that Megawati would be able to deal with the ongoing economic crisis and speed up the recovery process.
"I am optimistic that Megawati would be successful in dealing with that problem (overcoming crisis)," Secretary General of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle Pramono Anung told Xinhua Monday.
He also said that Megawati who was taken oath by MPR on Monday afternoon would launch reconciliation among components of this nation and ending political stand-off between executive and legislative bodies.
Anung said that during the first 100 days of her presidency, Megawati would focus on her tasks on economic issues and improving the performance of the government which has been deteriorated by corrupt bureaucracy.
"I am optimistic (that Megawati would be successful in carrying out her duties) as she has been backed up by majority factions in the parliament including the police and military," Anung said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman of the MPR's Military Faction Hari Sabarno welcomed the appointment of Megawati as the first woman president in the country.
In the meantime, racing for vice presidential position has been heating up as major factions in the parliament would fight to promote their own candidate.
The MPR will kick off deliberations on the vice president position which was left by Megawati, and probably on Wednesday the vice president would be decided.
Some nominees would be proposed such as Akbar Tandjung of the Golkar Party, Hamzah Haz of the United Development Party and Yusril Ihza Mahendra of the Crescent and Star Party.
"Indonesia needs a strong government. And coalition between the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle and the Golkar Party is the best solution," Agung Laksono, Golkar Party leader, told Xinhua in an interview on Monday.
"The Golkar Party has decided on Monday to nominate Akbar Tandjung during the forthcoming vice presidential race," he said, citing his party would launch an intensive lobby to make Tandjung successful in the race.
On this issue, Hari Sabarno said that the military would be keep being neutral in the race, adding there is no candidate for the position from military.
" I think it would be better for the TNI (military) to keep being neutral," Sabarno told Xinhua.
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