Amien names Siswono as running mate in July 5 race

Amien names Siswono as running mate in July 5 race

Kurniawan Hari and Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta

After weeks of uncertainty, the National Mandate Party's (PAN)
presidential aspirant Amien Rais announced on Sunday former
minister Siswono Yudo Husodo as his running mate for the July 5
presidential race.

Siswono said he hoped his candidacy would create a solid and
harmonious duo between Amien, "a nationalist, religious" figure
and himself, a man who always "tries to be religious, and a
nationalist".

The announcement came a few days ahead of the May 12 deadline
for political parties to register their candidates for the
country's first direct presidential election with the General
Elections Commission (KPU).

In his speech, Siswono, who leads the Indonesian Farmers
Brotherhood Union (HKTI), added that he decided to pair with
Amien "after a month of contemplation".

Siswono, who served in a number of New Order cabinets, was
earlier nominated presidential candidate by a grouping of several
political parties, including the Islamic Unity Party (PSI).

The platform of PAN itself is inclusive and nationalist, but a
change in its statute included a controversial reference to piety
(taqwa) that was seen as confirming its lean toward Muslim
groups.

The leadership of the country's second-largest Muslim
organization, Muhammadiyah, has openly stated its support for
Amien as a presidential candidate, to the dislike of some of its
youth organizations who seek to uphold the organization's
independency.

Amien had earlier mulled on running with the popular former
chief security minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, but it turned
out that the latter's party got more votes and more seats in the
legislature than PAN. Susilo is pairing with another popular
former minister, Jusuf Kalla.

In a ceremony attended by politicians from various parties,
Amien appealed to other presidential candidates to engage in an
ethical and transparent campaign.

"Please, avoid money politics, intimidation, and other
indecent activities so that whoever wins the election will get
legitimacy and the people's blessing," he said at the Gedung
Joang 45 in Menteng, Central Jakarta.

Among politicians attending the ceremony were Lt. Gen. (ret)
Yunus Yosfiah and Alihardi Kiaidemak of the United Development
Party (PPP), Rahardjo Tjakraningrat of the Islamic Unity Party
(PSI), Muchtar Pakpahan from the Democratic Social Labor Party
(PBSD), Eros Djarot of the Freedom Bull National Party (PNBK),
and Sukmawati Soekarnoputri of the Marhaenism Indonesian National
Party (PNI Marhaenisme).

Economist Faisal Basri, a former secretary-general of PAN,
senior journalist Rosihan Anwar, and Muslim cleric Abdullah
Gymnastiar were also present; as well as several PAN leaders,
such as Abdillah Toha, Hatta Radjasa, and Alvin Lie.

Hundreds of supporters enthusiastically witnessed the ceremony
despite the intense heat.

Last week, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle's (PDI-
P) leader President Megawati Soekarnoputri announced Nahdlatul
Ulama (NU) chairman Hasyim Muzadi as her running mate.

As of late Sunday, Golkar was still deliberating on its
running mate for Gen. (ret) Wiranto. The party would approach
Solahuddin Wahid, the younger brother of former president
Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid.

None of the candidates are expected to garner more than half
of the votes in the election on July 5 and a possible run-off is
scheduled for Sept. 20.