Susilo like a new, cute girl at school<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro and Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is now like a pretty young girl
\ncourted by young and even old men. As his Democratic Party is
\nshowing a clear sign that it has become an alternative for voters
\nwho are fed up with the performance of the more established
\nparties, the retired general is now being approached by many
\nparties.<\/p>\n
In addition, more people from the business community are busy
\nrecalling how close they were to Susilo years before.<\/p>\n
Even Megawati Soekarnoputri's Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle (PDI-P) -- at least for the moment -- has shown its
\nenthusiasm for the former coordinating minister for political and
\nsecurity affairs.<\/p>\n
These days, Susilo is busy receiving people at his home in
\nCikeas, Bogor, West Java. The general, whose father-in-law was
\nthe legendary Lt. Gen. Sarwo Edhi Wibowo, displayed a cautious
\nattitude when receiving those politicians.<\/p>\n
\"I have met with several party leaders recently,\" said Susilo
\nat a press conference at his home.<\/p>\n
Susilo said that he had met former President Abdurrahman \"Gus
\nDur\" Wahid, chairman of the Crescent Star Party Yusril Ihza
\nMahendra and leader of the country's largest Muslim organization,
\nNadhlatul Ulama, Hasyim Muzadi.<\/p>\n
Citing Susilo's lack of loyalty, Gus Dur fired him from the
\nCabinet shortly before his downfall in July 2001. Susilo retired
\nfrom President Megawati's Cabinet shortly before the legislative
\nelection campaign started on March 11.<\/p>\n
Several executives from the Muslim-oriented Prosperous Justice
\nParty (PKS) and the Golkar Party had also come to meet him, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
However, Susilo said that it was too early to regard the
\nmeetings as efforts to form a coalition.<\/p>\n
\"I haven't gone that far because the new political landscape
\nwill only emerge a week from now,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Golkar executive Slamet Effendi Yusuf confirmed that the party
\nhad met Susilo in a bid to form a possible alliance because
\nSusilo had a great chance of winning the presidential election.<\/p>\n
\"It was just a preliminary meeting. Golkar is still seeking
\nother parties and leaders to form a coalition,\" said Slamet.<\/p>\n
Elite figures from Golkar and PDI-P have been paving the way
\nto forming a coalition to win the presidential election. However,
\nGolkar seemed to shy away from the strategy after seeing that the
\npreliminary vote tally put PDI-P beneath Golkar.<\/p>\n
\"Although it is still preliminary, we have been lobbying
\nSusilo and the Democratic Party to join us. I think it is hard
\nfor us to join hands with the PDI-P because they will insist on
\nremaining on top,\" said Golkar executive Fahmi Idris.<\/p>\n
Megawati, who replaced Gus Dur as president in July 2001, now
\nfinds herself in trouble. Susilo could be her strongest contender
\nin the race for the presidency.<\/p>\n
\"Anything can happen in politics,\" commented an executive of
\nGus Dur's National Awakening Party (PKB) on the current political
\nmaneuvering.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/susilo-like-a-new-cute-girl-at-school-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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