Search for alliances may see Golkar abandoned

Sunday was business as usual for party leaders intensifying their lobbying in search of ideal allies to partner with in the presidential election.

Golkar presidential hopeful Jusuf Kalla met with Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) chairman Prabowo Subianto at Golkar's base on Jl. Mangunsarkoro in Menteng, Central Jakarta, but the encounter saw no commitments made.

“We will hold further talks on ties between Golkar and Gerindra, of course with an aim at building a coalition,” Kalla told reporters after the meeting.

He admitted the two leaders did not touch on the issue of the presidential race.

Golkar sprang a surprise last week by quitting its four-and-a-half-year coalition with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democratic Party and announcing it would seek the presidency.

Kalla has since met with leaders of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and the People’s Conscience Party (Hanura).

Both Kalla and PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri agreed Friday to establish a “small” team to follow up on the coalition talks.

But a day later, the PDI-P officially declared Megawati its presidential candidate, to possibly face off against Kalla and Yudhoyono, whose nomination was made official on Sunday.

Most of the PDI-P's provincial branches have reportedly thrown their weight behind retired Army general Prabowo as Megawati's running mate.

Prabowo visited Megawati on Sunday after meeting with Kalla.

Kalla previously said Golkar would join forces only with parties that won at least 2.5 percent of votes.

Several quick count surveys indicate only nine of 38 parties meets this parliamentary threshold.
The nine parties are the Democratic Party, Golkar, the PDI-P, the Properous Justice Party (PKS), the National Mandate Party (PAN), the Nation Awakening Party (PKB), the United Development Party (PPP), Gerindra and Hanura.

The PKS and the PKB have officially declared their coalition with the Democratic Party.

PAN advisory chairman Amien Rais also said the party would propose its member Hatta Radjasa as Yudhoyono's running mate.

In its national leaders' meeting Sunday, the Democratic Party gave Yudhoyono the mandate to pick his own running mate.

The PPP has yet to decide who to side with, after its leaders' meeting Saturday in Bogor resulted in a mandate for party chairman Suryadharma Ali to seek allies.

The PDI-P has held repeated coalition talks with Gerindra and Hanura.

Golkar, expected to collect only 14 percent of votes in the legislative elections, has set up a six-member team to lobby other parties.

“The team has started and opened political communication with all parties, including the Democratic Party,” Golkar executive Yorris Raweyai told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

“We're optimistic about forming an ideal coalition before May 10.”

The registration period to nominate presidential candidates is May 10-16.

Yorris added the talks with Megawati had shown positive results for the possibility of a coalition.
“It's not just about presidential and vice presidential candidates — we want to build the country with strong legislative support,” he said.

He added Golkar had in principle reached an agreement with Hanura.