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.