Mega wants coalition partner for 1st round knockout victory<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P)
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri dropped a very clear hint on Thursday of
\nher intention to get ever more chummy with Golkar Party leader
\nAkbar Tandjung, as her running mate, in the presidential
\nelection.<\/p>\n
Megawati's aide Pramono Anung Wibowo said the she was eying a
\nquick finish of the election and therefore she would need a
\nrunning mate who could ensure a landslide win and thus no runoff
\nelection.<\/p>\n
\"Ibu is still contemplating her possible running mate, but she
\nsaid she would like to secure the presidency in the first round
\nof election,\" Pramono said after a weekly party meeting led by
\nMegawati.<\/p>\n
He added that Megawati would only take on a running mate who
\ncould satisfy the wishes of her constituents.<\/p>\n
The landmark direct presidential election will take place on
\nJuly 5, but only parties that get 3 percent of the total number
\nof votes in the April 5 legislative election are eligible to
\nnominate candidates.<\/p>\n
The runoff vote would be on Sept. 20 unless one candidate wins
\nover 50 percent in the first round.<\/p>\n
Shortly after the Supreme Court overturned his corruption
\nconviction, Akbar fueled a discourse on his possibility to become
\nMegawati's running mate, much to the chagrin, however, of his
\nGolkar colleagues.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, Megawati's husband Taufik Kiemas said Akbar,
\nNahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Hasyim Muzadi and Vice President
\nHamzah Haz, who chairs the United Development Party (PPP), also
\ncould fit the criteria for Megawati's running mate.<\/p>\n
Pramono admitted those names were on Megawati's list of
\npotential running mates, but she was waiting for more input and
\nopinions from the party members.<\/p>\n
In the 1999 election, Golkar finished second after PDI-P, with
\nPPP third. Hasyim, meanwhile, leads an organization that claims
\n40 million of supporters, which is nominally affiliated with the
\nNational Awakening Party (PKP), which finished fourth in the 1999
\nelection.<\/p>\n
Some PDI-P leaders have stated that Hasyim was the right
\nperson to help Megawati retain her presidency.<\/p>\n
Pramono said, however, that Megawati had asked her party to
\nconcentrate more on the legislative election, slated for April 5,
\nbefore further discussions on the possible coalition for the
\npresidential election.<\/p>\n
\"We can only make a coalition after we know the results of the
\nlegislative election,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The General Elections Commission (KPU) said it would be able
\nto announce the final results of the legislative election by the
\nend of April and name all eligible presidential candidates on May
\n19.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mega-wants-coalition-partner-for-1st-round-knockout-victory-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}