PDI-P steps up lobbying

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.