PPP reluctant to join up with President Megawati
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.