Golkar, PKB part ways after dismissal of Wiranto's case

Golkar, PKB part ways after dismissal of Wiranto's case

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

The Golkar Party and the National Awakening Party (PKB) put an
end on Tuesday to their fragile and less-than-three-month-old
coalition, following the elimination of their presidential ticket
from the race.

Golkar said it would not involve its losing presidential
candidate Wiranto in talks on which pair it would support in the
Sept. 20 runoff.

The announcement came just one day after the Constitutional
Court dismissed the claim of Wiranto and his running mate
Solahuddin Wahid that they lost 5.4 million votes in the July 5
polls.

The ruling upheld the General Elections Commission's (KPU)
tally, which saw the duo finish third behind the Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono-Jusuf Kalla and Megawati Soekarnoputri-Hasyim Muzadi
tickets. The top two candidates qualify for the runoff.

"We discontinue our support of Pak Wiranto and Solahuddin
amicably, just the way we nominated them. It's a farewell
(meeting) but not a formal one, between our campaign team and
that of Pak Alwi Shihab," Golkar leader Akbar Tandjung said.

PKB leader Alwi attended the meeting on Tuesday, as did
Wiranto, Solahuddin, Golkar deputy chairman Agung Laksono, PKB
deputy chairman Mahfud MD and Wiranto's campaign manager Lt. Gen.
(ret) Suaidy Marasabessy.

Saying that Golkar would have to honor the Constitutional
Court's ruling, as well as the Supreme Court's decision in a
related case, Akbar said his party would not offer Wiranto any
further political commitment.

"There won't be any offers. We want to finish it, in the right
way," Akbar, who lost to Wiranto in the Golkar convention in
April, asserted.

Akbar had several times hinted at Golkar's support of the
Megawati-Hasyim pairing, even before the Constitutional Court
turned down Wiranto's petition, while other party leaders held
talks with the Susilo-Kalla team without their leader's
knowledge.

Agung said Golkar would not involve Wiranto in coalition talks
ahead of the runoff, despite Wiranto's claim that he was
responsible for over 26 million votes that he and Solahuddin
garnered in the July election.

Golkar will decide which ticket it will support in a
leadership meeting this weekend.

Wiranto said he expected to continue talks with both Golkar
and PKB regarding the runoff.

"Today's (talk) is our third meeting with Golkar and PKB
leaders. We will continue talks ahead of the runoff," he said.

Wiranto said he was considering meeting with either the
Susilo-Kalla pairing or the Megawati-Hasyim team.

"I must be responsible for the 26 million people who voted for
me and Pak Solah. They are awaiting my next move. We are yet to
discuss it formally, but (the party) must consider this factor,"
the retired four-star Army general said.

To the contrary, Solahuddin said he was yet to decide whether
he would continue his political career.

"We'll see, but I will start writing a book next week," said
Solahuddin, who was formerly deputy chairman of the National
Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM).

Meanwhile, Alwi said the PKB was open to the possibility of
developing a loose cooperation with Golkar in the future, in
political or social affairs.

"We will make a decision after the party's national meeting,
in the near future," he said.