KALLA: JULY ELECTION PART OF IDEOLOGICAL COMPETITION

Jakarta, May 23 (ANTARA) - Presidential aspirant from the Golkar Party, Jusuf Kalla, said the upcoming July presidential election was part of an ideological competition.

"The upcoming presidential election is not just to elect a certain figure but it is part of an ideological competition whether we can realize national self-reliance or otherwise," Kalla said here on Saturday.

The Golkar Party chairman made the statement at a function to observe the 7th anniversary of the party's Women's Association (KPPG).

He said if the people elected the wrong national leader in the election, it would be of great consequence to the state and nation in the future.

"If they vote wrongly, the people will live in misery for the next five years. For example, the people of America wrongly elected President George Bush Jr and the United States economy have turned into a mess," Kalla said.

According to him, the leadership of President George Bush Jr was considered the worst in US history because besides he engaged in war, the country also underwent the worst ever economic crisis.

"Therefore, be careful in electing the national leader in Indonesia," Kalla said in the company of his wife Mufidah Kalla and Golkar Party Secretary General Sumarsono.***