NAMES EMERGE AHEAD OF DEMOCRAT PARTY CONGRESS

Jakarta, March 23 (ANTARA) - Several names have emerged ahead of the congress of the ruling Democrat Party in May to choose its new leadership.

The party associate chairman, Djafar Hafsah, said here on Tuesday there were already three names being mentioned as would-be candidates for party general chairmanship namely Marzuki Alie, Andi Mallarangeng and Anas Urbaningrum.

"The three seem to compete tightly in the Democrat Party congress next May," he said after a discussion on "Coalition Consolidation Post-Century Inquiry Committee."
Marzuki Alie is the party's former secretary general and is now House speaker while Andi Mallarangeng is an associate chairman of the party and now minister of sports and youth affairs and Anas Urbaningrum is an associate chairman of the party and chairman of the party faction in the House of Representatives.

Djafar said the three are predicted to compete for the votes of the participants of the congress.

According to the party's internal rules, no limit will be made on the number of candidates for the post but all candidates must be able to meet the requirements.

Asked he would also seek for the post Djafar said he was ready if he received a mandate from regional boards and party cadres.

"As a cadre I am ready to implement the mandate of the cadres," he said.

He said despite all the dynamics within the party every candidate would receive equal treatment in the congress.

Djafar said the chief patron, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, would be neutral and let the best person to come out to lead the party for the next five years.

He said names have been mentioned noone has declared himself for it as the criteria still have yet to be discussed and determined in the national coordination meeting on March 27-28.

"The meeting will also discuss preparations for the congress including the draft order and agenda to be discussed there," he said.

The meeting will be attended by around 750 board members from central, regional and local levels from across the country.