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Parties draw near to Kalla as presidential race opens up
With Vice President Jusuf Kalla gearing up for a presidential bid, the country’s political constellation is realigning as parties look ahead to the possibilities now opening up
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With Vice President Jusuf Kalla gearing up for a presidential bid, the country’s political constellation is realigning as parties look ahead to the possibilities now opening up.
Elites from old and new parties applauded the readiness of Golkar chairman Kalla to contest the presidency, saying it would provide more options for coalitions.
They said the parties could opt to team up with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party, Megawati Soekarnoputri’s Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP-P) or Golkar, the largest party based on the 2004 elections.
“We welcome the candidacy of Pak Kalla; it will give us more options for coalitions in the presidential poll,” Razikum, chairman of the Prosperous Justice Party’s (PKS) campaign team, told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
Asked whether the PKS’s Hidayat Nur Wahid would run with Kalla, Razikum said “It’s very likely to promote the duo of Kalla and Hidayat.”
“But we will wait for the results of the legislative elections in April before linking up with other parties.”
Kalla startled the country last week by announcing his plan to run in the presidential election, after mounting demands from Golkar’s provincial branches.
Fadly Zon, vice chairman of the Greater Indonesian Movement Party (Gerindra), also hailed Kalla’s move to run for president this July.
“It’s good news for our democracy. Kalla’s move is valid, because Golkar will remain one of the most influential parties in the country, even after the 2009 elections,” he told the Post.
He revealed there had been “informal talks” to have Kalla team up with Gerindra advisory board chairman Prabowo Subianto.
Prabowo was a former high-ranking Golkar member.
“There’s talk among members about the two parties discussing a possible Kalla-Prabowo pairing.”
Umar S. Bakry, executive director of the National Survey Institute (LSN), said such a pairing would be the most appropriate to represent the both civilians and the military, young and old, and Javanese and non-Javanese groups.
“Kalla and Prabowo must combine their supporters to face Yudhoyono. If that happens, Yudhoyono will have his toughest rivals yet in the election,” he said, adding that Kalla’s popularity would increase sharply in the coming months.
“Kalla has always been labelled a vice president, meaning his popularity as a presidential candidate remained low. But this will change fast because Kalla has the capacity to lead the country,” Umar said.
An LSN survey last December showed Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X was the most popular figure from Golkar to run for president.
Kalla came in second, followed by former chairman Akbar Tandjung and media tycoon Surya Paloh.
However, University of Indonesia political expert Andrinof Chaniago warned that Kalla stood no chance in the presidential race.
“If Golkar wants to name its own candidate, it would be better to choose Hamengkubuwono because he is more acceptable to the grass roots,” he said.
“Kalla can choose to remain Yudhoyono’s vice president or become a kingmaker. That’s more respectable than follow his emotions and running for president.”
