Mega, Susilo scramble for Golkar's support

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Election frontrunners Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Megawati Soekarnoputri are now climbing over each other to woo the Golkar Party in order gain much-needed support for the likely runoff poll in September.

A close aide to Susilo told The Jakarta Post on Thursday the retired general's campaign team had approached several parties to look into possible coalition-building, with Golkar at the top of the list.

"We have approached several parties and Golkar was the first party that we talked to," the aide said on Thursday evening.

He did not say when the meeting with Golkar took place.

Building a coalition with Golkar would be an important step to winning the Sept. 20 run-off election and to forming a strong government afterwards.

Golkar, which was earlier blamed for the country's economic collapse, has the most extensive campaign network. It was the highest polling party in the April 5 legislative election, with 129 members elected to the House of Representatives (DPR).

A coalition with Golkar would be especially important for a Susilo-Jusuf Kalla government, which needs support from a major political party if it is to rule effectively. Susilo's Democratic Party only won 54 seats in the House on 7 percent of the vote. Analysts say it helps Susilo that Kalla is a Golkar member.

Megawati's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), meanwhile, has also held meetings with Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP), and the country's second-largest Muslim organization, Muhammadyah.

A PDI-P source told the Post his party had met with Golkar leader Akbar Tandjung and his colleagues earlier this week to seek their support.

During the meeting Akbar had shown eagerness to forge a coalition between the two parties, he said.

Golkar's candidate Wiranto is currently trailing in third place in the vote counting.

Megawati's campaign team also met with Hamzah Haz of the United Development Party (PPP) to discuss coalition building and Megawati's running mate Hasyim Muzadi has held talks with Muhammadiyah chairman Syafi'i Ma'arif.

"Megawati is also scheduled to meet Amien sometime next week to discuss the same issue," a Megawati campaign team member said.

On Thursday, Akbar said Golkar was always ready to form a coalition with any party, regardless of whether Wiranto entered the second round.

"We are ready (to talk) but there is still a likelihood we may go through to the second round. Until the result is clear, we will not make any further move," Akbar said after attending an anti-drug event at the State Palace.

The event was the first time Akbar, in his capacity as House Speaker, had appeared at the palace in the past year.

National Awakening Party deputy chairman Mahfud M.D. said the party was considering several coalition options if its presidential candidate Wiranto failed to make the runoff.

"If we look into the concept of good governance, we'd prefer to join a coalition with Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of the Democratic Party.

"But we can't ignore the fact that PKB has strong emotional ties with Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle because its leader, Megawati Soekarnoputri, picked Hasyim Muzadi of Nahdlatul Ulama as her running mate," Mahfud told the Post.