Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Wed, 05/06/2009 9:20 AM
In a bid to avoid internal rifts, Golkar Party leader Jusuf Kalla has allowed other party members to challenge him in the presidential election under the banner of rival parties.
The decision will pave the way for other candidates such as President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to pick a running mate from Golkar without being hindered.
"It is OK if any Golkar members are chosen as running mates for rival presidential hopefuls as long as they don't represent the party. We will respect them," Kalla said after a three-hour executive meeting on Tuesday.
Golkar politicians like Akbar Tandjung, Agung Laksono and Sultan Hamengkubuwono X have been widely tipped as running mates for Democratic Party's Yudhoyono and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle's Megawati Soekarnoputri.
Kalla himself contested the 2004 election as Yudhoyono's running mate without Golkar official backing as the party nominated former Indonesian Military commander Wiranto and Solahuddin Wahid.
Golkar has declared Kalla its presidential aspirant this time around. He announced Friday People's Conscience Party (Hanura) leader Wiranto as his vice presidential candidate despite challenges from other Golkar leaders.
Top party figures, including Agung, Aburizal Bakrie, Muladi and Fadel Muhammad missed Friday's event, raising speculation about internal squabbling within the party.
The latest challenge to Kalla's candidacy came from dozens of regional chapters.
Kalla admitted the "rifts" did happen.
"There are just *inputs' from provincial and regional chapters *about the candidacy* and we will take them into account," he said.
Golkar deputy chairman Muladi said opposition to Kalla and Wiranto nomination was "still mounting" during a meeting on Tuesday and suggested that the party continue its partnership with the Democratic Party instead.
"There was an impression that *previously* JK looked to obstruct other Golkar members to run in the election. But after debating, Kalla said it was OK if Yudhoyono picks a Golkar member as running mate," Muladi said after the meeting.
Another Golkar executive Marzuki Darussman said the party's leaders fully supported Kalla's candidacy after he allowed other party members to contest the presidency.
"That was the deal reached between us to support JK-Win," he said, referring to the Golkar ticket.
Agung Laksono however did not attend the meeting.
Marzuki said that despite Golkar's support for Kalla and Wiranto, the chance for the ticket to win was still remote as the party's grassroots members remained divided.
The Golkar leaders also agreed to form a campaign team for the presidential and vice presidential candidates.
