T

he Golkar Party said Friday it would likely join forces with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) as it had no history of being in opposition.

A Golkar senior member has confirmed that the party is only inches from forging an alliance with the election winner to endorse the candidacy of Jakarta Governor Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo in the upcoming presidential election.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Golkar'€™s advisory council deputy head Luhut Binsar Panjaitan said although Golkar chairman Aburizal Bakrie and PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri had recently agreed to establish a '€œpartnership'€ ahead of the presidential election, Golkar would still need formal approval from the party'€™s national executive meeting (Rapimnas) on Sunday to make the move official.

'€œAburizal and Megawati'€™s understanding and consistency in obeying the statutes of their respective parties show a high tolerance and respect for each other,'€ he said.

Luhut also admitted that Golkar'€™s decision to support Jokowi, considered by the majority of pollsters as the strongest presidential contender, was an attempt to preserve its long-held tradition of being part of the ruling government.

'€œGolkar has no history in opposition,'€ he said.

On Tuesday, Aburizal made a joint public appearance with Jokowi in Gembrong Market, Central Jakarta, indicating that he would support the latter'€™s candidacy.

The next day, Golkar deputy chairman Fadel Muhammad was present at the official declaration of Jokowi'€™s presidential nomination at PDI-P headquarters, which was also attended by leaders of the NasDem Party and the National Awakening Party (PKB), two parties that have officially announced their support for Jokowi'€™s nomination.

Golkar lawmaker Ade Komarudin also said his party'€™s alliance with the PDI-P was almost confirmed. '€œOur deal [with the PDI-P] is 99 percent [confirmed],'€ he told reporters.

Previously, senior PDI-P politician Sabam Sirait advised the Golkar Party to team up with the Democratic Party in opposition. '€œI think the support from the PKB and NasDem is enough,'€ he said.

In a separate event on Friday, Megawati disclosed her plans to meet Hanura Party chairman Wiranto, despite the tight schedule both party leaders had. '€œActually, Wiranto already asked to meet me, but I haven'€™t been able to find the time. Both he and I have been tied down with other priorities and we might not be able to meet in the next few days,'€ Megawati said.

It is said that Megawati and Wiranto are slated to meet on Saturday at Megawati'€˜s residence in Central Jakarta. In Hanura'€™s own national executive meeting last Wednesday, the party chairman was given full authority to determine coalition strategy.

Meanwhile, the United Development Party (PPP) is still faced with an internal dispute about the party'€™s coalition strategy surrounding the announcement of National Mandate Party (PAN) chairman Hatta Rajasa as likely running mate to Gerindra Party chief patron Prabowo Subianto.

PPP executive Achmad Dimyati Natakusumah said on Friday that his party would back out on its coalition arrangement with Gerindra if it officially nominated Prabowo-Hatta as presidential and vice-presidential candidates without first consulting the PPP.

'€œThe coalition should be built on a shared vision. If this does not bode well with the character of the PPP as a party of the people, we will withdraw,'€ Ahmad said on Friday, as quoted by Antara news agency.

He also emphasized that the party belongs to the people, and that all matters must be discussed with the people

Previously, the PPP had been torn apart by the sudden maneuver of chairman Suryadharma Ali to support Prabowo at a Gerindra rally during the campaign period.

Meanwhile, the Democrats have announced Dahlan Iskan as the winner of its Presidential Convention and is reportedly still deciding whether to form its own coalition or join the PDI-P or Gerindra coalitions. (tjs)