PDI-P scouts for election partner<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), the
\ncountry's largest political party, plans to join forces with
\nother parties to ensure it maintains control of the country's top
\npost during next year's landmark direct presidential election.<\/p>\n
Keeping all its options open by not specifying which parties
\nit was considering, PDI Perjuangan said it might forge alliances
\nwith more than one party to secure the presidency.<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan's Jacob Tobing said on Friday no agreement had
\nbeen reached on who would team up with the party's presidential
\ncandidate, Megawati Soekarnoputri, the incumbent President.<\/p>\n
Party leaders concluded a three-day meeting on Thursday during
\nwhich they calculated their chances in the 2004 direct
\npresidential election. The meeting, which followed up the party's
\nnational meeting last month, set the criteria for any parties PDI
\nPerjuangan might form an alliance with. Among the requirements
\nare similar ideologies and a commitment to pluralism.<\/p>\n
\"On top of all the criteria, any coalition must not jeopardize
\nthe unity of party constituents,\" Jacob told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
He said the party leadership was considering possible
\nalliances because PDI Perjuangan's stronghold was Java island,
\nwhich on its own would not give the party the strength to win the
\npresidency.<\/p>\n
The amended Constitution stipulates that to be elected
\npresident a candidate requires a simple majority of the vote from
\nat least half of the country's provinces.<\/p>\n
\"That is why we have to concentrate on garnering support
\noutside of Java,\" Jacob said.<\/p>\n
The presidential election bill now being deliberated at the
\nHouse of Representatives says any coalition must be announced
\nbefore the election.<\/p>\n
Jacob's remarks confirmed recent speculation that PDI
\nPerjuangan was eying Muslim-based parties such as the United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP) and the National Awakening Party (PKB),
\nor the Golkar Party as partners for the 2004 presidential
\nelection.<\/p>\n
However, each of these parties comes with drawbacks, which
\nmight be why PDI Perjuangan, which won 35 percent of the vote in
\nthe 1999 general election, has still not made an announcement.<\/p>\n
The Golkar Party, despite meeting all of the criteria set by
\nPDI Perjuangan, carries the ghosts of the New Order regime, which
\nPDI Perjuangan clashed with before the reform movement forced
\nlong-time ruler and Golkar chief patron Soeharto to step down in
\n1998.<\/p>\n
One PDI Perjuangan official, who asked to remain anonymous,
\nsaid many of the party's constituents remained skeptical of
\nGolkar's commitment to reform.<\/p>\n
PPP, which is led by Vice President Hamzah Haz, could be an
\nideal partner for PDI Perjuangan given its stronghold in
\nKalimantan. However, its Islamic ideology could spoil that
\npartnership.<\/p>\n
The PKB was a useful partner for PDI Perjuangan in the last
\nelections, but with that party winning a relatively small
\npercentage of the vote in 1999 and given the bitterness between
\nthe two since the ouster of Abdurrahman Wahid from the presidency
\nin 2001, any future alliances are questionable.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman, who is PKB's chief patron, was replaced by
\nMegawati.<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan treasurer Noviantika Nasution said that during
\nthe recent meeting, party leaders also discussed the selection of
\nlegislative candidates for the 2004 elections.<\/p>\n
\"Our members from all branches across the country must be
\nready for the direct election,\" she said.<\/p>",
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