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SBY insists on choosing Boediono as running mate
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has named Central Bank Govenor Boediono as his running mate for the upcoming presidential election, and now must face the outraged challenges from the parties that supported his coalition and re-election efforts
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President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has named Central Bank Govenor Boediono as his running mate for the upcoming presidential election, and now must face the outraged challenges from the parties that supported his coalition and re-election efforts.
The president's special envoy Hatta Radjasa held talks with leaders of the parties Tuesday evening to win their backing for the choice.
"I think the choice [of Boediono] has been made after a long and objective process. The decision should therefore be left to the President. He knows best which candidate will suit his criteria. We lend our support," Hatta, who is the State Secretary, said to Antara.
Yudhoyono, also chief patron of the legislative election winning Democratic Party, is anticipated to officially announce Boediono's nomination in Bandung on Friday.
Accompanied by Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi and Democratic Party chief Hadi Utomo, Hatta met with United Development Party (PPP) leader Suryadharma Ali, National Awakening Party (PKB) chief Muhaimin Iskandar and secretary-general of the National Mandate Party (PAN) Zulkifli Hasan for two hours at the State Guest House.
The leader of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) was invited but did not attend.
Hatta said it was appropriate that the presidential candidate picked a vice presidential candidate to avoid conflict among the supporting parties who also proposed their own candidates.
Executives of PKS, PPP and PAN later held a closed-door meeting in a hotel in Central Jakarta to discuss Boediono's nomination.
PKS executive Mahfudz Siddiq said he was surprised by Yudhoyono's choice, claiming it had never really considered an option. Mahfudz said PKS and the other Yudhoyono allies would soon announce their response to the matter.
Hatta was optimistic, however, the coalition led by PD would remain solid and expected Yudhoyono would be meeting the leader of the Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Megawati Soekarnoputri, by Friday. Such a meeting would signal the end to their personal feud and long-lasting rivalry between the two parties.
PDI-P officials denied any link with Boediono's nomination.
"To my knowledge, Boediono is not a PDI-P member. He was named the finance minister during Megawati's tenure due to his competence," PDI-P deputy chairman Tjahjo Kumolo said.
He said Hatta informed Megawati of Boediono's nomination during their discussion Monday.
Separately, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) expressed its support for Boediono's, claiming he and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati had together successfully secured Indonesia's economic success.
