FUNCTIONAL-BASED PARTIES STILL HAVE CHANCE TO WIN PRESIDENTIAL RACE

Jakarta, April 10 (ANTARA) - The Golkar Party and functional-based parties still have the chance to win the presidential contest in the coming presidential race, a senior Golkar figure said.

"Although the votes gained by Golkar declined, it still can win the presidential contest if it works together with functional-based parties," Senior Golkar figure Pinantun Hutasoit said here on Friday.

He said that if Golkar intended to win the presidential race, it should conduct a consolidation with other functional-based parties. "But it should consolidate in real terms first," he added.

Hutasoit said the parties he referred to were parties which were formed by Golkar former cadres such as the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), the People's Conscience Party (Hanura) and others.

"If they had that intention they have to do it with full consciousness and should throw away their respective arrogance. With that way I think they still could win the presidential contest," he said.

Parties should stick to the ideal of serving the people and improving their welfare, he said Golkar was an old party which had proven its ability. It has many cadres who are able to carry out the presidential duties, he said.

"The figure of the candidates will determine the success of a presidential election," he added. ***1***

T.H.AK