Suharto Quotes
It turned out that all socio-political forces - namely the United Development Party, Indonesian Democratic Party, Functional Group, and ABRI factions - said the majority of people still wanted me to accept the renomination for the 1998-2003 term. Well, that being the case, I was ready to accept their renomination with a sense of responsibility.
Suharto. Acceptance Speech to the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR). 11 Mar. 1998, Jakarta, Indonesia.
At that time the Presidential nominee had influence but could not unilaterally determine who his running mate would be as the Party Conventions—especially the Democratic Party Convention—was wide open. The candidate joked in this quotation, but the party leaders were very unhappy with such an open convention and after the 1972 election which they lost handily, the rules were changed to give party leaders more influence. By the 21st century, the primary elections had all but made the party conventions a quaint celebration and no serious decisions were made by the party leaders or the party delegates.
Suharto was an Indonesian politician, and military general, who served as the second president of Indonesia, holding the office for 31 years, from the ousting of Sukarno in 1967 until his resignation in 1998. He was widely regarded by foreign observers as a dictator. However, the legacy of his 31-year rule, and his US$38 billion net worth is still debated at home and abroad.
