Aburizal Looks For Non-Liberal Vice President Candidate

Jakarta, March 21 (Antara) - Chairman of Golkar Party Aburizal Bakrie, who is concurrently a presidential candidate, stated that his party was looking for a vice presidential candidate who did not believe in economic liberalism. "I will never choose a vice president who will lead Indonesia to become a liberal state," Bakrie asserted while leaving for Medan for an out-door campaign rally, on Thursday. He pointed out that among the criteria for the party`s vice presidential candidate, was that he or she should pursue economic development that could improve people`s welfare, and not economic liberalism that would benefit only the elite few. The vision and mission of Golkar Party were outlined in the party`s blue print on the national development in all fields for a period of 30 years, which was called "Vision 2045 Prosperous Nation", he added. "He or she should believe that the government has the task to smartly intervene in programs concerning public welfare," he elaborated. Bakrie stated that he would name his vice presidential candidate after the parliamentary elections on April 9. Indonesia will organize presidential election on July 9. Earlier, Bakrie had remarked that he had selected his vice presidential candidate for the July 9 presidential race. "We have selected a vice presidential candidate who has the capability to lead the country in the coming five years," observed Aburizal Bakri (ARB) on Thursday. However, ARB still kept the identity of the vice presidential candidate who will pair with him in the presidential race, a secret. Asked about the nomination of Joko Widodo as the presidential candidate of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), ARB mentioned that neither the Golkar nor himself is likely to be influenced by the Jakarta governor`s nomination. He added that the Golkar has a vision and mission, so if the people trusted it to lead the nation, it would offer many programs to improve public welfare. Also, the Golkar general chairman added that his party will give priority to fighting corruption.