Coalition shows signs of division
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
As Megawati Soekarnoputri and running mate Hasyim Muzadi head toward a crushing defeat, signs of cracks in the so-termed Nationhood Coalition are becoming more and more apparent.
Roy BB Janis, a prominent leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), called for an immediate end to the coalition, saying that the grouping had not helped Megawati's quest for a full five-year term in the Sept. 20 election.
Aside from PDI-P, coalition members include the Golkar Party, the Islam-based United Development Party (PPP) and the Christian- oriented Prosperous Peace Party (PDS).
The coalition was primarily formed to boost Megawati's chances in the runoff, and to form a loose coalition in the House of Representatives and regional legislatures until 2009.
However, with over 107 million ballots counted by Thursday evening, the incumbent had only gained 39.9 percent of the vote, compared to her opponent Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and running mate Jusuf Kalla's 61 percent.
Over 153 million people registered to vote in the runoff, but it is believed that around 125 million actually voted.
"The Nationhood Coalition has failed. Why should we maintain it? It must be stopped," Roy said, after attending Megawati's speech before the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).
Without going into detail, Roy claimed that only the PDI-P, led by Megawati, was serious in supporting the Megawati-Hasyim ticket.
Responding to Roy's suggestion, Golkar leader Akbar Tandjung, who was appointed as coalition coordinator, said that the grouping would still be maintained for the next five years to "control the government".
"It is our commitment (to maintain the coalition)," he said.
Akbar emphasized that the coalition would focus on empowering the House to build an effective check-and-balance mechanism.
A source said that the coalition, which controls 305 seats in the 550-member House, would push for a fuel price hike as soon as possible, to provoke public disappointment with the new administration.
The source also suggested that the group would use sensitive issues to instigate the people to stage massive protests and, later, impeach the president.
Responding to the speculation, Akbar said that the purpose of the coalition was not to topple the government. He said it would not be easy to impeach the president.
"Let us observe issues as they develop. We will certainly respond to those issues, (but) we will see later -- I cannot discuss the fuel price hike right now," he said.
Meanwhile, Susilo and Kalla are waiting for an indication from Megawati and her husband Taufik Kiemas of a possible "reconciliatory" meeting.
"We are ready anytime and hope to meet (Megawati) but we understand the present situation. We are awaiting the word from Ibu Megawati and her husband," Kalla said, after holding a closed-door meeting with Susilo at the latter's private residence in Cikeas, Bogor, West Java on Thursday.
"We should accept the leadership change as something ordinary, so there should not be personal issues between the president- elect and the incumbent," he added.
Both Susilo and Kalla were Megawati's top ministers until they quit from the cabinet and challenged Megawati in the presidential election.
Also on Thursday, Susilo met with Eric Bjornlund, field director of the Carter Center, and Glyn Ford from the European Union, during which the two congratulated him.
According to Ford, Susilo told them that he was committed to combating corruption, improving education, solving the unemployment problem and restoring peace and order in troubled provinces such as Aceh and Papua.