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Coalition with Dems unlikely, says PDI-P secretary-general
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) secretary-general Tjahjo Kumolo says it is unlikely that the party will form a coalition with the Democratic Party ahead of the upcoming presidential election
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ndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) secretary-general Tjahjo Kumolo says it is unlikely that the party will form a coalition with the Democratic Party ahead of the upcoming presidential election.
He said PDI-P had decided Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo would be its presidential candidate while the Democratic Party had 11 presidential convention participants, one of which would be nominated as its presidential candidate.
'We respect the convention; however, the chance of cooperation is challenged when the Democratic Party has its own presidential candidate. Almost all of the convention participants have said that they are participating in the convention to become a presidential candidate,' said Tjahjo in Jakarta on Monday, as quoted by kompas.com.
Nevertheless, Tjahjo said PDI-P remained open to communicate with all parties, including the Democrats.
A recent history of bad blood between Democratic Party chief patron President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri began when the former ran for the presidency in 2004. At that time, Yudhoyono was coordinating political, legal and security affairs minister in Megawati's cabinet and one of her most trusted aides.
Tjahjo said communications between PDI-P and the Democratic Party were running smoothly even though his party was currently in opposition.
'Maybe some constructive relations established between the two parties have not yet been reported by Democratic Party cadres to [Yudhoyono]. As a result, he keeps thinking that communications between the two parties have not yet run well,' he said. (idb/ebf)
