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.