Six parties rallied behind Amien-Siswono

M. Taufiqurrahman, Jakarta

Six political parties announced their support on Friday for the pair of Amien Rais and Siswono Yudohusodo, who have been nominated by the National Mandate Party (PAN) to contest the upcoming presidential election.

Despite their poor performance in the legislative election, the new parties expressed optimism their contribution would help Amien and Siswono win.

With PAN as the main sponsor, additional votes from the Marhaenisme Indonesian National Party (PNI Marhaenisme), Social Democratic Labor Party (PBSD), Freedom Bull National Party (PNBK), Indonesian Democratic Vanguard Party (PPDI), Indonesian Unity Party (PSI) and Reform Star Party (PBR) are expected to increase the estimate votes for Amien and Siswono to 17 million.

PAN leader Amien is also relying on support from Muhammadiyah, the country's second largest Muslim organization. He once chaired the organization that claims it has 30 million followers.

The seven parties, which represent the country's mainstream ideologies of nationalism and Islamism, declared their partnership with little fanfare.

PNBK leader Eros Djarot said that, among many reasons for supporting Amien and Siswono, was the fact that both were reform- minded, compared to the other four contenders for the presidency.

"All pairs have approached me, but it is only Mas Amien and Pak Siswono who I think I can cooperate with, thanks to their credentials in upholding democracy and reform," Eros said, to the thundering applause of the parties' supporters.

In a cryptic speech delivered after Eros, Gandung Laksmana, representative of PNI Marhaenisme implied that all nationalist- based political parties supported Amien because he chose Siswono as his running mate.

"We gather here to support our candidate, Pak Siswono. He is the figure we all need now, although he assumed ministerial posts in the past regime, he could stay clean and was not corrupt," he said.

Siswono served as the public housing minister and transmigration minister during the tenure of authoritarian president Soeharto, whose resignation six years ago marked the start of reform movement.

Leaders of other political parties took turns delivering their endorsement speeches afterward. Also in attendance at the celebration were PBR leader and renowned preacher Zainuddin MZ, PSI leader Raharjo Tjakraningrat, PBSD leader Muchtar Pakpahan and PPDI leader Dimmy Haryanto.

Speaking after the ceremony, Amien said the support could boost his reputation as a candidate who was acceptable to people of various political parties.

"Politically, we are stronger now as our foundation is expanding," he said.

Amien said no backroom deal was involved in gaining the support of the political parties.

"There is no political contract whatsoever," he said.

Amien's statement contradicted an earlier remark of Muchtar's, who said Amien had promised him the manpower ministerial post in the Cabinet should he win the presidency.

The six new parties failed to meet the electoral threshold in the legislative election to nominate their own presidential candidates.

They had earlier suggested Siswono as their presidential hopeful, except for Zainuddin, who had agreed to stand alongside Soeharto's daughter Siti "Tutut" Hardijanti Rukmana, who was nominated presidential candidate by the Concern for the Nation Functional Party (PKPB).

Amien and Siswono, considered the dark horse of the presidential race, highlight the fight against corruption, collusion and nepotism in their platform.