Susilo-Kalla nomination official
The Jakarta Post, Surabaya/Jakarta/Bogor
The Democratic Party officially declared former senior ministers Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Jusuf Kalla as its flag bearers for the July 5 presidential election, in Surabaya on Friday.
The declaration was made after a plenary meeting attended by the party's Central Executive Board (DPP) members, and provincial and regental/municipal leaders from around the country.
Also attending the announcement were several leaders of the Crescent Star Party (PBB), Reform Star Party (PBR), and Indonesia Justice and Unity Party (PKPI).
The three parties had reportedly agreed to support the Susilo- Kalla pairing in the country's first-ever direct presidential election on July 5.
Susilo said in his speech that he and Kalla would strive to bring about peace, justice, democracy and prosperity.
Kalla, on the other hand, appealed for public support.
"We are nothing without support from the party and the public at large," he said.
The pair will register itself with the General Elections Commission (KPU) on Monday and make a formal announcement later in the day at the Jakarta Convention Center.
Meanwhile, in Jakarta, politicians from Muslim-based parties continued to hold "political communications" on Friday, with the United Development Party (PPP) leader Hamzah Haz hosting several dialogs with other party leaders.
Hamzah also held a meeting with PBB chairman Yusril Ihza Mahendra at his official residence on Friday to discuss an "alternative presidential candidate".
"He (Yusril) can be the alternative candidate," Hamzah said after the meeting.
"We would like to build a permanent coalition and find a figure acceptable to the people," he said.
During the meeting, Hamzah was accompanied by several PPP leaders, while Yusril was with PBB secretary-general MS Ka'ban.
Some Muslim-based parties, including PPP and the National Awakening Party (PKB), have held a series of meetings in the past few days to form a coalition and field one common candidate for the upcoming election.
The meetings started after Megawati Soekarnoputri of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) shelved her plan to nominate Hamzah as her running mate in the election, and the Supreme Court rejected a review filed by PKB on health requirements for presidential and vice presidential candidates.
The requirements are likely to disqualify PKB's presidential candidate, the visually impaired Muslim cleric Abdurrahman Wahid.
Later on Friday, Hamzah also held a meeting with former transmigration minister Siswono Yudohusodo, widely rumored to be the running mate of National Mandate Party (PAN) leader Amien Rais, who is also chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).
"I have to respect small parties that support my nomination as presidential candidate. I will decide whether to accept PAN's offer before May 9," he said after meeting Hamzah.
Siswono has been nominated by some small parties as their presidential candidate in the July 5 election.
Meanwhile, Amien said in Bogor, West Java on Friday that he was happy with the "underdog position". His party only came sixth in the legislative election.
He also admitted that he had to work hard to win the election.
Amien is slated to announce his running mate on Sunday at the Gedung Juang building in Central Jakarta.