PDI-P forms coalition with Gerindra, Hanura

Knowing friends: Chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle Megawati Soekarnoputri shakes hand with chief patron of the Great Indonesian Movement Prabowo Subianto at Megawati’s residence in Jakarta on Saturday. Antara/Widodo S Jusuf

Chief patron of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) said Saturday that the party is set to hold coalition with two newcomers, the Indonesian Great Movement Party (Gerindra) and the  People's Conscience (Hanura) Party.

“Coalition? Hanura (is) certain, Gerindra (is) certain,” he said answering journalists questions at his residence, as quoted by kompas.com.

When asked about the party's coalition plan with Golkar Party, he answered vaguely “Let's see later. Next Wednesday the coalition is set.”

Taufik said PDI-P would nominate its chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri as presidential candidate but it has yet to nominate the vice presidential nomination name.

He said a PDI-P coordination meetung would decide the name and Gerindra's chief patron Prabowo Subianto was one of the candidates.

Accoding to most quick count survey, PDI-P came second with around 14 percent votes during the Legislative Elecgion Thursday. Gerindra and Hanura came eight and ninth with around 4 and 3 percent of votes, respectively.

Prabowo, former chief of the Army’s Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad), has intensified personal and political lobbies and spent a large amount on a media campaign to promote his party and presidential candidacy.

Failing to win the support of the Golkar Party for his presidential bid in 2004, Prabowo, who owns PT Kiani Pulp and Paper in East Kalimantan, founded Gerindra as his political vehicle to contest the presidential election in July. (dre)