Ante up in runoff coalition lobbying

Ante up in runoff coalition lobbying

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta

Lobbying among politicians has intensified in the past few days,
with vice presidential candidate Siswono Yudohusodo and several
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) clerics being the latest group of people to
meet President Megawati Soekarnoputri at her official residence
on Jl. Teuku Umar here on Friday.

Separately, presidential candidate Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
(SBY) brushed aside a claim by his running mate Jusuf Kalla, who
earlier said that if elected the pair would allocate 40 percent
of the positions in their Cabinet to members of political parties
and the remaining 60 percent to professionals.

Siswono, the running mate of Amien Rais, said after meeting
Megawati that he took the opportunity to convey his ideas to
Megawati, who will likely compete with front runner Susilo in the
runoff. Some have predicted that she will win the election.

Siswono, who has obviously lost his chance at the vice
presidency, urged Megawati in the meeting to pay more attention
to the grass roots and improve the country's ability to stand on
its own feet.

"I hope the next government will pay more attention to
reducing unemployment, improving education and people's welfare,"
said Siswono, who claimed the meeting was at Megawati's
initiative. Siswono denied that the meeting was aimed at either
forging a coalition with Megawati or supporting her in the
runoff, slated on Sept. 20 this year.

He further said that there should be further consideration
before deciding who he supported in the runoff.

Siswono stressed that he did not represent his running mate
Amien Rais at the meeting, saying that Amien, in his capacity as
National Mandate Party (PAN) leader, would decide for himself who
to support.

Earlier in the day, Megawati also received NU clerics from
Lirboyo Islamic boarding school in East Java province. At the
meeting, the NU clerics expressed support for Megawati's bid for
the presidency.

Friday's meeting was held following Megawati's earlier
meetings with National Awakening Party (PKB) chief patron
Abdurrahman Wahid and Reform Star Party (PBR) leader Zainuddin
MZ.

Meanwhile, after attending Friday prayers at Al Azhar Mosque
in South Jakarta, Susilo reiterated that he would prefer to
establish a limited coalition to ensure that check-and-balance
mechanisms worked. "I guess we could have an ideal coalition if
the government accommodated only particular parties in the
Cabinet, while the others would become the opposition. The
concept would create a check and balance," said Susilo.