Golkar, PDI-P coalition possible: Taufik<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Surabaya\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Influential Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P)
\nmember Taufik Kiemas expressed interest in a formal coalition
\nwith the Golkar Party in the presidential elections, although
\nthis idea was quickly dismissed by his colleagues.<\/p>\n
During his visit to Surabaya on Wednesday, Taufik said his
\nwife, PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, deserved a running
\nmate of Golkar Party leader Akbar Tandjung or Nahdlatul Ulama
\n(NU) head Hasyim Muzadi's quality in the direct presidential
\nelection on July 5.<\/p>\n
\"Megawati fits figures like Hasyim Muzadi or Akbar Tandjung,
\nas they share a similar platform,\" Taufik said.<\/p>\n
He asserted such a coalition could materialize with the
\napproval of the PDI-P's central executive board.<\/p>\n
PDI-P secretary general Soetjipto quickly brushed aside the
\nstatement, saying the party had yet to decide on Megawati's
\nrunning mate.<\/p>\n
\"PDI-P is not even looking into the possibility (of naming
\nAkbar as vice presidential candidate). If Akbar said he wanted to
\nbe Megawati's vice president then it was his personal statement.
\nWe PDI-P have not yet begun any discussion on vice presidential
\ncandidates,\" Soetjipto said.<\/p>\n
Taufik and Soetjipto were briefing the party's legislative
\ncandidates about who would contest the provincial and regental
\nlegislature elections in April.<\/p>\n
This month, Akbar said he and other Golkar members were
\nwilling to form a coalition with the PDI-P. His statement came
\ndays after he was acquitted by the Supreme Court for corruption
\ncharges.<\/p>\n
A coalition between the two nationalist-oriented parties may
\navoid a run-off, which is scheduled for Sept. 20. A presidential
\ncandidate needs a simple majority vote to win the top post.<\/p>\n
In the 1999 election, the PDI-P won 33.8 percent of the vote,
\nwhile Golkar Party around 20 percent.<\/p>\n
Akbar has come under fire for his statement as Golkar has yet
\nto conclude its national convention to select the party's
\npresidential candidate.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, Golkar deputy leader Fahmi Idris said Akbar should
\nretract his statement as it violated the objective of the
\nconvention.<\/p>\n
\"The convention is aimed at selecting the Golkar presidential
\ncandidate, not other posts. The party supporters are very sure we
\nwill win 33 percent of the vote and win the presidential
\nelection, Akbar should not have made such a statement,\" Fahmi
\nsaid on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\"It is not right to expect Golkar to finish second after PDI-
\nP.\"<\/p>\n
He said a meeting between Akbar and Taufik last December
\nresulted in no agreement on a coalition between the two parties.<\/p>\n
\"The meeting could not be considered anything important
\nbecause there was no detailed discussion of a possible coalition.
\nThere were no certain talks whatsoever on the coalition,\" Fahmi
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Akbar said Golkar was ready to join forces with PDI-P and he
\nwas prepared to be nominated as a vice presidential aspirant.<\/p>\n
\"Yes, we could form a coalition with PDI-P because we have
\nmany similarities,\" said Akbar.<\/p>\n
Both PDI-P and Golkar share similar platforms, had the same
\nresponses to current issues, and both were willing to share
\npower, he said.<\/p>\n
He said the coalition would much depend on the results of the
\nlegislative election.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/golkar-pdi-p-coalition-possible-taufik-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}