PPP reluctant to join up with President Megawati

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The United Development Party (PPP) seems reluctant to support incumbent President Megawati Soekarnoputri openly for the expected Sept. 20 run-off, although party leader Hamzah Haz has been reported to have thrown his weight behind her.

Scores of PPP executives negated on Wednesday a claim by Pramono Anung Wibowo, Megawati's aide and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) deputy secretary-general, that their Muslim-based party would back her reelection bid.

Meanwhile, PPP deputy leader Ali Marwan Hanan said he neither confirmed nor denied Pramono's statement.

"Whatever decision concerning the run-off will be made after the final result of the poll is announced by the General Elections Commission," Ali told reporters on the sidelines of a PPP central board meeting.

PPP secretary-general Lukman Hakim Saifuddin concurred with Ali, saying the claim was Pramono's interpretation of what had transpired at a meeting between Hamzah and Megawati.

"I called him (Pramono) last night and complained to him about the statement," he was quoted by detik.com news agency.

Hamzah-Agum campaign team leader Hazrul Azwar said the PPP's decision on the candidate it would endorse in the run-off would be made through a national meeting attended by the heads of all provincial chapters.

Pramono said in Tuesday's meeting with Megawati, Hamzah, who had almost conceded defeat in the July 5 presidential election, had expressed his hope that Megawati would win the run-off.

The incumbents also agreed to maintain their strong relationship, added Pramono.

Separately, a researcher of independent pollster Soegeng Sarjadi Syndicated (SSS), Sukardi Rinakit, said despite the foot- dragging, the PPP would eventually lend its support to Megawati.

"Muslim-based parties like the PPP would surely support Megawati because if she is reelected, she would only last until 2009 and afterwards, they could nominate their own candidates with an Islamic orientation," he said.

The amended 1945 Constitution limits a president's tenure to a maximum of two five-year terms.

However, Sukardi said, if the PPP supported former chief security minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and he won, the party's chance of fronting their own candidate in the 2009 race would diminish, as Susilo would have a greater chance of being reelected.