Six parties rallied behind Amien-Siswono

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.