Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Jusuf Kalla's position as vice president and his privilege as chairman will see the Golkar Party in no hurry to nominate its candidates for the 2009 presidential election, Golkar politicians said.
Ferry Mursyidan Baldan, a Golkar legislator with the House of Representatives, said his party would not hold an internal convention to net its presidential and vice presidential candidates because the party was the government's main supporter.
""Golkar will optimize its role as the main supporter of the SBY-JK duet and their government until 2009,"" Ferry said.
""This is in preference to holding a convention to decide on our presidential and vice presidential candidates.
""A convention could fragment the current government.""
Ferry said Yudhoyono and his Democratic Party would earn political points from the pair's performance -- but the public would realize that success was linked to Golkar's contribution to the government.
Kalla said recently Golkar would announce its presidential and vice presidential candidates six months before the presidential race.
He said this would let the party focus on improving the government's performance until 2009.
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has named Megawati Soekarnoputri as its candidate to contend Yudhoyono in 2009 and the United Development Party (PPP) has moved closer to PDI-P, seeking a possible coalition to contend the election.
Outgoing Jakarta governor Sutiyoso has also shown his interest in running for presidency.
Golkar's deputy secretary general Ahmadi Nur Supit however said Golkar had not definitely decided against a convention to net its presidential candidates.
Ahmadi said most party branches had called for a convention of sorts or at least an informal one to seek prospective candidates.
He said the information convention would allow the party to announce a presidential candidate six months before the presidential election.
Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, Aburizal Bakrie, Prabowo Subianto and Agung Laksono were several names other than Yudhoyono and Kalla that had been raised by party branches as prospective presidential candidates, Ahmadi said.
Eep Syaifullah Fatah, a political analyst with the University of Indonesia, said despite Golkar's position as a supporter of the government, the nomination of its presidential candidate should be decentralized to ensure internal party democracy.
""Golkar's popularity could drop in the next two years, if its presidential candidate is decided by its elite figures,"" Eep said.
""The public will see it as undemocratic and centralistic.""
Eep said Golkar should introduce its 2009-2014 political platforms to convince the public of its strong commitment to their welfare.
