Democratic Party chairman Hadi Utomo has confirmed some of his party executives have met several times with officials from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) for talks many see as a precursor to forming a coalition.
He stopped short, however, of calling the meetings coalition talks, but added that, should a coalition be formed between the two major parties, other parties should not view it as a threat.
"In Indonesia, there is no such thing as a tyranny of the majority; what we have is a checks and balances system. Even if a coalition [between the Democratic Party and the PDI-P] is formed, we will surely respect one another equally," Hadi said Sunday at a press conference.
He added concerns the coalition could lead to an overly powerful majority were "groundless".
He also denied the meetings were an attempt to prevent PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri from pairing with Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) chairman Prabowo Subianto in the July 8 presidential race.
Prabowo's rising popularity will force incumbent President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, chief patron of the Democratic Party, to work harder to win a second term in the upcoming presidential election.
It is widely believed the Democratic Party's "Team 9" negotiating team met with PDI-P chief patron Taufiq Kiemas and secretary-general Pramono Anung on Friday night for coalition talks.
On the recent closeness between the two rival parties, Democratic Party deputy chairman Max Sopacua said, "In politics, things can change. We have no eternal foes and no perpetual allies; what we have is eternal interest."
He quickly added the perpetual interest was that of the nation and the people.
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