Jakarta – In a move against money politics, Indonesia's largest political party has proposed an open vote on the political fate of President Abdurrahman Wahid during next month's impeachment session against him.

The proposal by the Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle – led by Vice-President Megawati Sukarnoputri – was welcomed by Assembly Speaker Amien Rais. Standing orders state that voting on presidential accountability should be by secret ballot.

"I think the idea should be supported as we need transparency. It will make the session more legitimate as we will be able to avoid back-door politicking," he said.

Mr Abdurrahman hopes to meet his major political rivals over the weekend in a last-ditch effort to persuade them not to begin impeachment moves against him, said presidential spokesman Adhi Massardi yesterday.