Megawati-Kalla suggested as pairing<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
As the election draws near, talks are loomi ng on a possible
\npairing between the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-
\nP) chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri and senior Golkar Party
\nmember Jusuf Kalla in the coming presidential election.<\/p>\n
Influential PDI-P member Taufik Kiemas dropped a hint on
\nSunday on the likely partnership, dubbed the most ideal by many.
\nThe duo of Megawati and Kalla would represent both Java and the
\nislands outside Java.<\/p>\n
\"A coalition with Golkar doesn't mean (a coalition) with its
\nchairman Akbar Tandjung. We will build up cooperation with the
\nparty's leaders, who also represent the NU,\" Taufik said, without
\nmentioning any names.<\/p>\n
Kalla, who is the coordinating minister for people's welfare,
\nwas raised in an NU environment. As a senior minister, Kalla has
\nalso had an excellent relationship with Megawati during her
\nthree-year term.<\/p>\n
Separately, Kalla said during a rally in the South Kalimantan
\ncapital of Banjarmasin that he was only willing to contest the
\nvice presidency.<\/p>\n
\"I am ready only to be the vice president as I am not Javanese
\nand many polls say I would be a good vice president,\" he said as
\nquoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
Taufik, who is also Megawati's husband, has repeatedly
\nmentioned a possible coalition between the two nationalist
\nparties, which garnered 55 percent of the House of
\nRepresentatives seats between them in 1999.<\/p>\n
A partnership between Megawati and Akbar is seen as
\nundesirable among a faction within the PDI-P, particularly due to
\nAkbar's image as being part of the New Order.<\/p>\n
PDI-P deputy chairman Roy B.B. Janis said on Sunday that the
\ndecision to form a coalition with Golkar would need the approval
\nof PDI-P supporters.<\/p>\n
\"It will be impossible to form such a coalition, and I am
\nalmost certain that 99.9 percent of PDI-P supporters will reject
\nsuch a coalition (with Akbar),\" Roy said.<\/p>\n
Akbar is facing a fresh law suit filed by a self-confessed
\nmiddleman who claimed that Akbar had broken his promise to pay
\nhim Rp 1 billion for information on a Rp 40 billion graft case
\nagainst Akbar in 2002.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/megawati-kalla-suggested-as-pairing-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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