(10 Mar 1998) Indonesian/Nat
Despite economic turmoil and increasingly noisy calls for Suharto to step down, Indonesia re-elected its President on Tuesday to a seventh five-year term.
The unanimous decision was announced at the National People's Assembly in Jakarta, which has been meeting since March 1st.
The outcome of Indonesia's Presidential election was never in doubt, as Suharto was the only candidate nominated by the country's five political factions.
Criticism over the government's handling of the current economic crisis has been heard around the nation in the past few weeks.
But none was evident at the Assembly, packed with Suharto loyalists.
A majority of the 500 member body were elected after a month-long campaign last May.
It was a landslide for the ruling Golkar Party after popular democracy activist Megawati Sukarnoputri was ousted from one of the other two legal political parties.
75 delegates were appointed by the politically neutral military.
Suharto's apparent handpicked successor B-J Habibie was expected to be approved by acclamation as well, on Wednesday.
Suharto has consolidated power despite the monetary crisis that has gripped the country since late last year.
Growing discontent at home and concern for family business interests have led him to clash with international monetary groups recently.
Debate over provisions of the I-M-F bailout plan is evident in comments by Assembly delegates.
But on Tuesday, Suharto's supporters were out in full force.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"When President Suharto was asked by the people of Indonesia to help this nation get out of the rut at that time he did that - handsomely so. The fact that you are now here, that I am surrounded by so many western press is testimony of that, and for that reason we have not waited and the people of Indonesia today have declared that we believe in this man. Of course, it's not just one man, it's going to be a lot of people with him to get us out of this problem."
SUPER CAPTION: Joop Ave, Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications
The President will be sworn in to his new term Wednesday and he will start with expanded authority due to new laws voted on Monday night.
The Assembly has not offered specifics on the new powers, other than to say the President will be authorised to take "speedy action" against threats.
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