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