Amien names Siswono as running mate in July 5 race<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari and Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta<\/p>\n
After weeks of uncertainty, the National Mandate Party's (PAN)
\npresidential aspirant Amien Rais announced on Sunday former
\nminister Siswono Yudo Husodo as his running mate for the July 5
\npresidential race.<\/p>\n
Siswono said he hoped his candidacy would create a solid and
\nharmonious duo between Amien, \"a nationalist, religious\" figure
\nand himself, a man who always \"tries to be religious, and a
\nnationalist\".<\/p>\n
The announcement came a few days ahead of the May 12 deadline
\nfor political parties to register their candidates for the
\ncountry's first direct presidential election with the General
\nElections Commission (KPU).<\/p>\n
In his speech, Siswono, who leads the Indonesian Farmers
\nBrotherhood Union (HKTI), added that he decided to pair with
\nAmien \"after a month of contemplation\".<\/p>\n
Siswono, who served in a number of New Order cabinets, was
\nearlier nominated presidential candidate by a grouping of several
\npolitical parties, including the Islamic Unity Party (PSI).<\/p>\n
The platform of PAN itself is inclusive and nationalist, but a
\nchange in its statute included a controversial reference to piety
\n(taqwa) that was seen as confirming its lean toward Muslim
\ngroups.<\/p>\n
The leadership of the country's second-largest Muslim
\norganization, Muhammadiyah, has openly stated its support for
\nAmien as a presidential candidate, to the dislike of some of its
\nyouth organizations who seek to uphold the organization's
\nindependency.<\/p>\n
Amien had earlier mulled on running with the popular former
\nchief security minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, but it turned
\nout that the latter's party got more votes and more seats in the
\nlegislature than PAN. Susilo is pairing with another popular
\nformer minister, Jusuf Kalla.<\/p>\n
In a ceremony attended by politicians from various parties,
\nAmien appealed to other presidential candidates to engage in an
\nethical and transparent campaign.<\/p>\n
\"Please, avoid money politics, intimidation, and other
\nindecent activities so that whoever wins the election will get
\nlegitimacy and the people's blessing,\" he said at the Gedung
\nJoang 45 in Menteng, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Among politicians attending the ceremony were Lt. Gen. (ret)
\nYunus Yosfiah and Alihardi Kiaidemak of the United Development
\nParty (PPP), Rahardjo Tjakraningrat of the Islamic Unity Party
\n(PSI), Muchtar Pakpahan from the Democratic Social Labor Party
\n(PBSD), Eros Djarot of the Freedom Bull National Party (PNBK),
\nand Sukmawati Soekarnoputri of the Marhaenism Indonesian National
\nParty (PNI Marhaenisme).<\/p>\n
Economist Faisal Basri, a former secretary-general of PAN,
\nsenior journalist Rosihan Anwar, and Muslim cleric Abdullah
\nGymnastiar were also present; as well as several PAN leaders,
\nsuch as Abdillah Toha, Hatta Radjasa, and Alvin Lie.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of supporters enthusiastically witnessed the ceremony
\ndespite the intense heat.<\/p>\n
Last week, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle's (PDI-
\nP) leader President Megawati Soekarnoputri announced Nahdlatul
\nUlama (NU) chairman Hasyim Muzadi as her running mate.<\/p>\n
As of late Sunday, Golkar was still deliberating on its
\nrunning mate for Gen. (ret) Wiranto. The party would approach
\nSolahuddin Wahid, the younger brother of former president
\nAbdurrahman \"Gus Dur\" Wahid.<\/p>\n
None of the candidates are expected to garner more than half
\nof the votes in the election on July 5 and a possible run-off is
\nscheduled for Sept. 20.<\/p>",
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