Jusuf Kalla's presidential aspirations denied<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
State news agency Antara made a clarification on Wednesday
\nregarding its interview with Vice President Jusuf Kalla, which
\ncontained a quote that some media outlets interpreted as
\nrepresenting an intention by the country's number two to contest
\nthe 2009 presidential election.<\/p>\n
The agency released on Wednesday a new version of its
\ninterview with Kalla, which added some editorial notes to the
\nearlier version published on Tuesday evening.<\/p>\n
\"God willing, as a Golkar member I had the right to be elected
\n(as Golkar chairman at its congress in Bali in December 2004) and
\nI ran (for the Golkar top post) with the President's consent. It
\nwould have been impossible without his consent,\" Antara quoted
\nthe Vice President as saying.<\/p>\n
Several media outlets, including The Jakarta Post, ran the
\ninterview, in which Kalla dismissed speculation of a rift between
\nhimself and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.<\/p>\n
Antara chief editor Asro Kamal Rokan said that the issue of
\nthe next presidential election had not been raised during the
\ninterview.<\/p>\n
\"We kept the record of all the Vice President's remarks during
\nthe interview. There was no statement made regarding the 2009
\npresidential election,\" Asro said.<\/p>\n
The interview took place at the Vice Presidential Offices on
\nJl. Medan Merdeka Selatan, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Kalla contested the Golkar top post at the party congress a
\nfew months after the election of Susilo, and won by an outright
\nmajority.<\/p>\n
Golkar is the biggest political bloc in the House of
\nRepresentatives, compared to Susilo's Democratic Party which
\nfinished fifth in the legislative election last year.<\/p>\n
Kalla said he had a constitutional responsibility to support
\nSusilo, whose mandate will end in 2009.<\/p>\n
\"Please believe that I want to carry out this state duty
\nproperly,\" Kalla said when asked to comment on suggestions that
\nhis absence from a number of video conferences between Susilo and
\nhis ministers while the President was on an overseas trip in
\nSeptember indicated disharmony between the two.<\/p>\n
Kalla said there was a clear division of labor between the
\nPresident and the Vice President.<\/p>\n
\"The Vice President, of course, focuses on the implementation
\nof the basic policies outlined by the President. That is the
\ndivision of labor we discussed right at the start,\" Kalla said.<\/p>\n
Kalla expressed optimism that his partnership with Susilo
\nwould remain solid until the end of their term.<\/p>\n
\"Personally and constitutionally, that's my responsibility,\"
\nKalla said.<\/p>\n
Regarding mounting demands for a Cabinet that puts
\nprofessionalism before political persuasion, Kalla quoted a
\nsurvey that showed support for the President in keeping the
\ncoalition intact.<\/p>\n
\"Data released by the Indonesia Bangkit organization revealed
\nthat most respondents wanted ministers from political parties.
\nNot all ministers affiliated to political parties are bad and not
\nall ministers with professional backgrounds are good,\" Kalla
\nsaid. Indonesia Bangkit groups a number of economists that are
\ncritical of the government.<\/p>\n
It is up to the President to decide on any reshuffle, Kalla
\nadded.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jusuf-kallas-presidential-aspirations-denied-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}