Kalla, a wild card in Golkar election

Kalla, a wild card in Golkar election

Wahyoe Boediwardhana and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar/Jakarta

On the eve of the Golkar Party congress, Vice President Jusuf
Kalla sprang a surprise by entering the race for the party
chairmanship -- with the knowledge of President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono.

Kalla's entry could change the course of the party, as it had
formed an opposition camp in the House of Representatives under
Akbar Tandjung's leadership, along with the Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS), the
Reform Star Party (PBR) and the National Awakening Party (PKB).

Presidential spokesman Andi Mallarangeng said on Tuesday that
Susilo was fully aware of Kalla's intention to vie against Golkar
leader Akbar during the congress in Denpasar, Bali, which will
open on Wednesday night.

"The President did not make a statement, but left the decision
up to the Vice President," Andi said on the sidelines of a
meeting between Susilo and Timor Leste President Alexandre Xanana
Gusmao at Tampaksiring Palace, Bali.

Andi said Susilo had appealed to all Cabinet ministers to
relinquish any official party positions they held so they could
focus on state duties and avoid a conflict of interest.

"The President, however, has never banned ministers from
holding party posts. There are no legal obstacles to Pak Jusuf
Kalla contesting the election for Golkar chair, if he is
nominated by party members," he said.

"Several ministers (still) hold top posts in their parties,
including Pak Yusril," Andi added, referring to State Secretary
Yusril Ihza Mahendra, who also heads Muslim-based Crescent Star
Party (PBB). Forestry minister Malam Sambat Kaban has also
retained his post as PBB secretary-general.

Ministers Alwi Shihab and Saifullah Yusuf were dismissed from
their respective posts as chairman and secretary-general of the
PKB, while Hatta Radjasa quit his position as National Mandate
Party secretary general.

Hidayat Nur Wahid was the first high-ranking official to
surrender his party post, resigning as Prosperous Justice Party
leader soon after he was elected in October as People's
Consultative Assembly Speaker.

Susilo is a founder of the Democratic Party, but holds no
formal position in the upstart party, which won 57 seats in the
House of Representatives in April.

Despite becoming Vice President, Kalla has maintained his seat
on the Golkar advisory board.

Kalla will be a real threat to Akbar, who is seeking a second
five-year mandate from Golkar, which served as the political
engine of former president Soeharto.

A source said Kalla had consulted Susilo on Monday with regard
to his Golkar election bid, hours before chairmanship candidate
Surya Paloh threw in the towel and gave an opening for Kalla.

Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi did not deny that the meeting
took place.

"I cannot say whether it was a blessing or not, because this
is unprecedented. But it is common for a state official to inform
the President about their intention to vie for a party leadership
post," Sudi said on Tuesday.

He also brushed aside speculations that Kalla's move aimed to
secure the government's political agenda, considering that Golkar
is the largest political party.

"The President has never meddled with the internal affairs of
political parties. What I am saying is that the practice of state
officials informing the President about such plans has been
around for a long time," he said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Surya had met Susilo at the presidential
office to talk about the Golkar congress.

"The President asked me whether I was ready to vie for the top
party post. I said I was ready, but there had been
discussions ... to nominate me and Pak Jusuf Kalla in one
package," Surya said.