Golkar Party, PDI-P consolidate

Golkar Party, PDI-P consolidate

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and Golkar
Party held separate internal meetings on Tuesday as Megawati
Soekarnoputri trailed far behind Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in the
vote counting.

Grouped under the Nationhood Coalition, PDI-P, Golkar, the
United Development Party (PPP) and the Prosperous Peace Party
(PDS) backed Megawati in the final round of the country's first
ever direct election on Sept. 20.

With 85 million votes counted by 9 p.m. Tuesday, Megawati had
garnered only 39.2 percent of the vote, compared to Susilo's 60.7
percent.

As party chairwoman, Megawati, also the incumbent president,
led a meeting attended by party leaders at its headquarters in
Lenteng Agung, South Jakarta, on Tuesday morning.

PDI-P deputy secretary general Pramono Anung Wibowo said after
the meeting the party would empower the Nationhood Coalition in
the House of the Representatives (DPR).

"This is a challenge for parties to once again win people's
trust by improving their performance in the House, and we will
also consolidate during the coming years," Pramono said.

"We will strengthen the Nationhood Coalition and ensure checks
and balances between the government and the House," he said.

Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung, who served as coalition
coordinator in the Sept. 20 election runoff, chaired his party's
meeting at its headquarters in Slipi, West Jakarta.

Akbar said after the meeting Golkar had sent a letter to the
General Elections Commission (KPU) informing Fahmi Idris and
Marzuki Darusman had been replaced as Golkar legislators. The two
supported Susilo in the runoff despite the party's decision to
back Megawati. Fahmi was also replaced by Freddy Latumahina as
Golkar faction chairman in the People's Consultative Assembly.

Akbar also said that his party would organize a national
congress in Denpasar, Bali, on Dec. 15 to elect a new chairman.
"Jusuf Kalla may nominate himself to become Golkar chairman, but
he has to meet the requirements," Akbar said without giving
details of the prerequisites.

Kalla, a Golkar member, had been suspended from the party
before the final round of the presidential election because of
his decision to become Susilo's running mate.

Akbar also stressed the Nationhood Coalition had agreed to
serve as an opposition in the House.

"We have decided to strengthen the coalition in the House and
will not accept any ministerial cabinet posts," Akbar said.

Akbar, who early on Monday fired nine Golkar leaders, said on
Tuesday morning that Golkar leaders must choose between
ministerial posts and Golkar membership.

He also said he expected other coalition members to also
reject offers of seats in Susilo's cabinet.

Meanwhile, political analyst Syamsuddin Haris said Megawati's
defeat in the runoff suggested that political parties were yet to
gain people's trust.

"They have to work harder in accommodating people's
aspirations and empower local politicians. This is a hard lesson
for parties to learn -- that sovereignty is in the people's
hands," he told The Jakarta Post.

"We cannot say that Megawati's defeat is also the political
parties' defeat. They still have time to win people's trust
through better performance in the House," he said.

Asked why the coalition failed to help Megawati win the
election run-off, Akbar blamed the limited time for the campaign.

He said the coalition was established only one month before
the voting day.

"The time for us (to campaign for Megawati) is too short," he
said, adding that the decision to support Megawati was agreed to
by a meeting of Golkar's leadership.