Top parties intensify efforts for coalition

Top parties intensify efforts for coalition

Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta

The nation's two largest parties are intensifying efforts to
explore a coalition aimed at giving incumbent President Megawati
Soekarnoputri a second five-year term in office.

Megawati's husband, Taufik Kiemas, from the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), met with Golkar Party
leader Akbar Tandjung on Friday at the House of Representatives.

The meeting took place as PDI-P leader Megawati looks certain
to challenge election frontrunner Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in the
Sept. 20 run-off.

Before the meeting, Taufik and Akbar, who is also the House
Speaker, performed Friday prayers at the House's Baiturrahman
mosque.

Taufik refused to comment on what he called an "accidental
meeting" with Akbar.

The Golkar head also denied speculation the meeting was a
signal a coalition was solidifying between the parties ahead of
the runoff.

"We have no plans as yet for a coalition because we have to
wait until the final results of the presidential election are
announced," Akbar said.

Some political analysts have predicted Golkar would likely
coalesce with the PDI-P instead of supporting Susilo and his
Democratic Party in second round of the presidential race.

Akbar, who was acquitted of all graft charges by the Supreme
Court earlier this year -- despite being convicted by two lower
courts, was close to Megawati, they said.

The Golkar leader would not form a coalition with Susilo
because his Democratic Party had voiced opposition to Golkar's
convention, which Akbar had spearheaded to select its
presidential candidates, analyst Eep Saefulloh Fatah said.

However, Eep and other political scientists said coalitions
between parties would not necessarily ensure their nominated
presidential candidates won. So far in the presidential
elections, statistics indicate voters have voted less on party
lines and more on how they perceived individual candidates.

Meanwhile, Golkar's Bomer Pasaribu told a discussion the
possibility was still wide open Golkar could form a coalition
with either the Democratic Party or the PDI-P.

"We have had communications with the PDI-P and the Democratic
Party. But, a coalition must produce an effective government,"
Bomer said.

The Megawati camp has also indicated it was willing to form a
coalition with Golkar.

Irmadi Lubis, a member of Megawati's campaign team, said
Megawati would form coalitions with political parties that had
similar platforms.

"We have to coalesce with political parties that fight for
democracy and civil supremacy. Therefore, the ideal coalition is
between the PDI-P and Golkar," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

Irmadi and Bomer said the coalition should aim at forming an
effective government under the new president.

The possible PDI-P-Golkar coalition would make up 237 seats in
the House. If the coalition also won support from the National
Awakening Party (PKB), the camp would have 289 seats or 52
percent of the 550 House members.

Susilo's new Democratic Party, meanwhile, only has 55 seats in
the House.

If the Democratic Party joined forces with Golkar and the PKB
they would only have 236 votes in the House.

In an attempt to win PKB support, PDI-P legislator Heri Ahmadi
said his party would facilitate a meeting between Abdurrahman
"Gus Dur" Wahid and Hasyim Muzadi to reconcile them.

Gus Dur, the PKB board chief of patrons, has been embroiled in
a feud with Hasyim since the non-active Nahdlatul Ulama (NU)
leader was picked by Megawati as her running mate in the
presidential election.

Hazairin Sitepu, Susilo's campaign team member, said his camp
was consolidating for the September runoff by making informal
approaches to all groups.

"We are building political communications with all groups. We
have not decided yet on coalitions with certain political
parties," he told The Jakarta Post.

He said communications with leaders of political parties were
made through personal approaches.