|
JAKARTA - Indonesia's Supreme Court has overturned the conviction of House Speaker Akbar Tandjung, clearing the way for his presidential bid which could bring Suharto's Golkar party back to power. Tandjung had been convicted in 2002 of misappropriating nearly $5 million in state funds in 1999 under President B.J. Habibie, who took office after long-time ruler Suharto was forced to resign.
If the Supreme Court had upheld the conviction, Tandjung would have been forced to serve the three-year sentence handed down by a lower court. Now, he could be among several candidates running for the country's first direct presidential elections in 2004 against incumbent President Megawati Sukarnoputri, whose approval rating has plummeted amid corruption allegations.
Although widely expected, the Supreme Court ruling sparked protests outside the courthouse Thursday and more students -- seeing the ruling as further evidence of widespread corruption -- are expected to take to the streets in protest later in the day.
In April, parliamentary elections will determine which of the 24 parties competing in general elections have enough seats to nominate a president.
Tandjung is campaigning for the Golkar ticket against other candidates, including Indonesia's former armed forces chief, General Wiranto, who has emerged as one of the party's leading candidates. The presidential vote will be held in July. Election watchers say no single candidate is likely to win a majority, which means a likely runoff vote in August.
|
|
|
There are no reactions on this blog entry yet. Be the first one to give a reaction here!
|
Log in to write a reaction
|
You are not logged in to the website. You have to be logged in to write a reaction on this blog entry.
· If you already have an account, please login.
· If you have lost your password, please retrieve it.
· If you don't have an account yet, you can create one.
|
|
|
ABOUT THIS ENTRY |
Add this blog entry to your email, your own blog, MySpace, Facebook, or whatsoever via AddThis:
|

Login if you want to receive emails for reactions on this blog entry. You will receive an update as soon as a reaction on this blog entry is posted.
|
|
Looking for e-tickets for flights in Indonesia? Here's your solution! Order your e-tickets at ticketindonesia.info.
|
BLOG ARCHIVE |
· 2015, 28 entries
· 2014, 591 entries
· 2013, 750 entries
· 2012, 1061 entries
· 2011, 792 entries
· 2010, 644 entries
· 2009, 916 entries
· 2008, 504 entries
· 2007, 725 entries
· 2006, 1014 entries
· 2005, 723 entries
· 2004, 558 entries
· 2003, 525 entries
· 2002, 375 entries
· 2001, 162 entries
|
POPULAR TAGS |
Automatically generated every hour
|
EXCHANGE RATES |
@ 17 May 2018 18:12 CET
|
@ 17 May 2018 21:58 CET
|
@ 15 May 2018 08:42 CET
|
@ 07 May 2018 07:48 CET
|
@ 16 May 2018 09:18 CET
|
@ 17 May 2018 00:46 CET
|
|
Go to 'exchange rates' |
|