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ational Mandate Party (PAN) chairman Hatta Rajasa announced on Tuesday that he had resigned from his post as coordinating economic minister to pursue his political ambitions as the running mate of the Gerindra Party'€™s Prabowo Subianto ahead of the July 9 presidential election.

Hatta tendered his resignation letter on Tuesday to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the State Palace, accompanied by Prabowo.

'€œAs an active minister, I have to get the President'€™s consent [to join Gerindra'€™s coalition]. It is in line with the existing regulations,'€ Hatta told a press conference at the Presidential Office after the meeting. '€œThat is [also part of] ethics in politics.'€

Although Hatta said that Yudhoyono would likely accept his resignation, Hatta said he would only leave office after the President signed a decree to relieve him from his duty.

During the press conference, Hatta also gave Prabowo the opportunity to outline his agenda for the next five years, if elected president.

'€œI came here to convey that our parties, led by us, intend to form a political alliance, together with other parties ['€¦] to jointly fight for and continue what has been laid out by our previous leaders '€” state sovereignty and people'€™s welfare '€” and to develop the country,'€ Prabowo said.

As for Hatta'€™s resignation, Prabowo said it would have been unethical if he and Hatta had not asked for Yudhoyono'€™s permission, given that Yudhoyono was also the leader of the ruling coalition.

'€œHe is also my senior in the TNI [Indonesian Military]; therefore, I also came here as his junior to ask for permission,'€ Prabowo said.

Prabowo also said that during the meeting, he had encouraged Yudhoyono to join his alliance. '€œI would like him to join me. Although the language was implicit,'€ he said.

Hatta'€™s resignation will leave a number of projects unfinished, including efforts to improve dwelling times at major ports across the country, establishing infrastructure and industrial projects under the government'€™s Master Plan on the Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesia'€™s Economic Development (MP3EI), as well as contracts of work for mineral mining companies.

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik, who is also an executive of Yudhoyono'€™s Democratic Party, said Hatta'€™s resignation would not hamper the government'€™s work in general.

'€œWe have a system. We will make efforts to ensure that [Hatta'€™s resignation] won'€™t hamper [the government'€™s projects],'€ he said.

Neither Jero nor Hatta revealed who would serve as the new coordinating economic minister, refusing to confirm speculation that tycoon Chairul Tanjung, who is also the chairman of the President'€™s National Economic Committee (KEN), would be appointed to Hatta'€™s position.

Contacted separately, Chairul also declined to confirm the conjecture, saying: '€œPlease, there has not been any decision yet; there has been no signal yet.'€

Also on Tuesday, before meeting with Prabowo and Hatta, Yudhoyono held a meeting with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle'€™s (PDI-P) presidential candidate Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo, who also requested a leave of absence from his post as Jakarta governor.

'€œOfficially, I have granted permission for Jokowi to run as a presidential candidate. Tomorrow, I will issue an official order consistent with the existing regulation. Jokowi will be on leave as Jakarta Governor until the KPU [General Elections Commission] names the new president and vice president [in October],'€ Yudhoyono said after the meeting.

With Jokowi taking a leave of office, Deputy Governor Basuki '€œAhok'€ Tjahaja Purnama will serve as interim governor.

Speaking after the meeting, Jokowi said that Yudhoyono also advised him to '€œmaintain ethics and civility during the presidential campaign'€.

'€œAs I understand it, there should be no smear campaigns,'€ Jokowi said.