Coalition up for grabs; Gerindra, PDI-P in talks

The Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) has expressed its readiness to join the government’s coalition while eying two ministerial seats, while PDI-P leaders have been sending mixed signals.

Gerindra’s statement was made in response to speculation that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono would replace three ministers from its coalition member the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).

Gerindra politician Desmon Mahesa said legislators from Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party had informed them about possible ministerial openings for Gerindra.

“Gerindra wants to help the government promote pro-poor policies in the ministries of agriculture and state-owned enterprises,” Desmon told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

He said the party’s request for the two seats could be seen as a prerequisite for Gerindra support.

Desmon said Gerindra wanted to create one million hectares of new paddy fields and would stop the government from selling state assets and halt the practice of privatization.

Gerindra patron Prabowo Subianto has been the head of the Association of Indonesian Farmers (HKTI) since 2004.

Many predicted the post of agriculture minister would be given to Prabowo, who vied in the last election for vice president with Megawati Soekarnoputri of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

PDI-P chief patron Taufiq Kiemas said his daughter, Puan Maharani, who was also the party’s head of political affairs, had met with President Yudhoyono.

PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri has repeatedly rejected invitations from Yudhoyono’s government to join the coalition, but Taufiq and his confidants have sent signals of interest to the coalition.

Gerindra secretary-general Ahmad Muzani said his party proposed five criteria for joining the coalition, including two ministerial seats.

The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) urged President Yudhoyono to drop any plans to form a coalition with Gerindra.

Kontras said it would be a major setback for human rights in the country. “We want Democratic Party officials to remember their commitment prior to the 2009 presidential election to not form any political coalitions with parties like Gerindra and Hanura [The People’s Conscience Party],” Kontras deputy coordinator Indria Fernida told the Post.

President Yudhoyono has called party leaders in the coalition to meet with him since Wednesday after
he met with Democratic Party and National Awakening Party (PKB) leaders.

Democratic Party deputy chairman Ahmad Mubarok said the President was scheduled to meet the United Development Party (PPP) chair on Thursday.

Golkar politician Priyo Budi Santoso said his party had yet to receive any meeting invitation from the President.

A rift within the coalition was increasingly palpable after Yudhoyono said there were “one or two parties” in the coalition that had violated commitments to the coalition. Since then, the protracted rumor of a Cabinet reshuffle has seemed to find confirmation.

Sources close to the President said a Cabinet reshuffle would likely be part of Yudhoyono’s plan to strengthen the fragile ruling coalition of six parties.