Susilo-Kalla begins search for coalition partner<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Jusuf Kalla began their search for
\ncoalition partners on Thursday, days after insisting that any
\npolitical alliance would be made after the presidential election
\nrunoff.<\/p>\n
Jusuf Kalla met with leader of the United Development Party
\n(PPP) Hamzah Haz at the latter's private residence in Tegalan,
\nCentral Jakarta to look into the possibility of forming a
\ncoalition for the Sept. 20 election.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a planned meeting between presidential candidate
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle (PDI-P) and leader of the National Mandate Party (PAN)
\nAmien Rais was called off on Thursday, after Amien decided to go
\nhome to Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
\"We will try to reschedule it,\" a source at the PDI-P told The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
After the one-hour meeting with Hamzah, Kalla said the pair
\nneeded support, not just from the grass roots, but also from
\npolitical leaders at the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
\"If we win the election, the PPP will surely be included in
\nthe Cabinet,\" Kalla said.<\/p>\n
The Susilo-Kalla ticket, which currently leads the provisional
\ntally of the July 5 election, had earlier said that a limited
\ncoalition would be formed after the runoff, in which the pair is
\nlikely to face incumbent Megawati and her running mate Hasyim
\nMuzadi.<\/p>\n
Hamzah, who is also the incumbent vice president, said both
\ncamps had invited his party to forge a coalition and that his
\nparty's decision would be made after its national leadership
\nmeeting on July 27.<\/p>\n
The General Elections Commission (KPU) is scheduled to
\nannounce the results of the July 5 election on July 26.<\/p>\n
\"Both candidates have offered the same thing to the PPP, but I
\nwill remain neutral and let the party decide,\" Hamzah said.<\/p>\n
Kalla said that both Susilo and himself were seeking as much
\nsupport as possible from major parties in the House, as they
\nrealized they could not have a strong government without support
\nfrom the House.<\/p>\n
\"We are allocating 40 percent of Cabinet seats for political
\nparties and 60 percent for professionals,\" said the former
\ncoordinating minister for people's welfare.<\/p>\n
Susilo had said earlier that he would establish a limited
\ncoalition after the Sept. 20 election only.<\/p>\n
Susilo also said that he would only give a small portion of
\nthe Cabinet seats to politicians, to avoid horse trading.<\/p>\n
Kalla said on Tuesday that they would focus on seeking support
\nfrom the grass roots to win the election.<\/p>\n
Susilo's Democratic Party only won 7 percent of the vote in
\nthe April 5 legislative election, while Megawati's PDI-P won
\naround 20 percent.<\/p>\n
\"What we meant by 'limited coalition' was excluding the PDI-P.
\nShould we win the presidential election we have to start talking,
\nbut off course that would be after Sept. 20,\" Kalla said on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
Megawati had earlier met with chief patron of the National
\nAwakening Party (PKB) Abdurrahman Wahid and leader of the Reform
\nStar Party (PBR) Zainuddin M.Z.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/susilo-kalla-begins-search-for-coalition-partner-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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