PD's secretary: cooperation with the PDI-P can take several forms

The Democratic Party believes that political cooperation does not have to take the form of a coalition, said a Democratic Party elite, referring to its relationship with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

"We can work together with the PDI-P, even if the party chooses to be in opposition," Democratic Party secretary Marzuki Alie said at the House of Representatives in Senayan, South Jakarta, on Thursday.

Marzuki said that good cooperation between his party and the PDI-P was evident during House meetings that were led by him in his capacity as the legislative body speaker.

"In the past, meetings about the establishment of House commissions could take up to three days, but now, we only need one day," he said.

"I also see that both parties always find a conducive settlement over any disputed issue," he added.

The Democratic Party and the PDI-P have been moving closer to one another in recent weeks, following the former's successful endorsement to name the PDI-P’s chief patron, Taufik Kiemas, as the People's Consultative Assembly chairman.

However, the PDI-P is still divided about joining a coalition with the Democratic Party because Taufik's wife, Megawati Soekarnoputri, is a regular opponent of Democratic Party’s chief patron, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.(hdt)