Building coalitions or just horse trading?

Building coalitions or just horse trading?

Indonesia's presidential election candidates have begun
approaching party leaders and other influential figures. The
Megawati Soekarnoputri-Hasyim Muzadi ticket has been more
aggressive than Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono-Jusuf Kalla.

Their efforts are nothing new. The candidates need party
support -- even though it did not significantly influence the
number of votes they gained in the first round on July 5. The
people made their own decision and they may also do so in the
runoff.

We should remind candidates and political parties that any
coalition must take into account three points -- corruption, the
rule of the law, and economic recovery.

However, there is concern that parties, as in the past,
continue to give their support to one candidate -- not for the
people's interests but for what they will gain from the newly
elected government, for instance how many of their members will
become ministers. This is truly unhealthy for efforts to attend
to the country's agenda, particularly in eradicating corruption
and upholding the law.

Horse trading within the Cabinet shows that the government
could lose its capability to fight corruption, uphold the law and
revive the economy. This kind of cabinet limits the president's
freedom to set up his or her cabinet. This is because parties are
inclined to fight for the security of their own members.

Those elected as the countries new leaders must change this
paradigm. The people's honesty and conscience must not be
manipulated.

-- Republika, Jakarta