PDI-P steps up lobbying
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Striving to maintain its political domination ahead of the Annual Session of the People's Consultative Assembly, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) is intensifying its lobbying of other major political parties.
PDI Perjuangan executives had a working breakfast with their Golkar Party counterparts on Thursday in a bid to smooth the way for the upcoming Annual Session next month.
"We haven't discussed the details yet, but we've agreed that when discussing the amendment of the 1945 Constitution, we'll have to try to find a middle way," Slamet Effendy Yusuf of the Golkar Party told The Jakarta Post.
He said the PDI Perjuangan had initiated the breakfast meeting, and Golkar had responded positively to the invitation.
"There will be further meetings with the PDI Perjuangan, but we'll expand them to include other parties," Slamet, who himself attended the breakfast meeting, said.
The PDI Perjuangan, led by President Megawati Soekarnoputri, has been attempting to push for some of its agenda to be accepted at the coming Annual Session, including a delay in the implementation of direct presidential elections from 2004 to 2009.
The country's largest party is also closely monitoring the maneuverings of the Muslim-based parties, which have their own agendas regarding the constitutional amendment process.
Muslim-based parties such as the National Awakening Party (PKB), the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the United Development Party (PPP) have been holding similar meetings since May.
Citing the current political environment, the PDI Perjuangan has made an enormous effort to win the support of Golkar, the second largest party, as both parties have between them 273 of the 700 seats in the Assembly.
Earlier on Wednesday evening, the PDI Perjuangan held a discussion on direct presidential elections at the residence of the party's secretary-general Soetjipto, with a number of leading officials from other political parties in attendance.
Slamet brushed aside speculation that such meetings were designed to block the moves of the Muslim-based parties, saying that those parties would be included in the next meeting.
Sukowaluyo Mintorahardjo of the PDI Perjuangan also dismissed the speculation, saying that his party would initiate meetings with the Muslim-based parties in the future.
"We have to find common ground for the success of the upcoming Annual Session ... That's why we see the importance of maintaining good relations with the other factions," Sukowaluyo told the Post.
Thursday's meeting was also attended by legislators Arifin Panigoro and Kiandra Widjaja of the PDI Perjuangan, and Theo Sambuaga and Fahmi Idris of the Golkar Party.