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Golkar joins Gerindra coalition
Golkar Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie is reported to have signed an agreement with Gerindra Party chief patron and presidential candidate, Prabowo Subianto, on the formation of a coalition between the two parties
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olkar Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie is reported to have signed an agreement with Gerindra Party chief patron and presidential candidate, Prabowo Subianto, on the formation of a coalition between the two parties.
Tribunnews.com reported that the signing of the agreement, taking place shortly after the declaration of Prabowo and his running mate, Hatta Rajasa, as the coalition's presidential and vice-presidential candidates today, was held at Aburizal's residence in Menteng, Central Jakarta.
With the agreement, the Golkar Party is the last party to join the coalition led by Gerindra, following the National Mandate Party (PAN), the United Development Party (PPP) and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).
According to the General Elections Commission (KPU) final tally results, Gerindra, together with Golkar and its three other coalition partners, gained 47.54 percent of vote and control 45.3 percent of seats at the House of Representatives. This will be more than enough for Gerindra to nominate its presidential candidate. The 2008 Election Law says a party, or a coalition of parties, can nominate its own presidential candidate if it obtains 25 percent of the national vote or 20 percent of House seats.
Previously, Golkar was reported to be joining a coalition led by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), following a meeting between party chairman, Aburizal, and the PDI-P's presidential candidate, Jokowi, at Gembrong Market last week.
Within only a few days, Golkar was reportedly aiming to create a new coalition with the Democratic Party while the latter said it was ready to sit in opposition.
A meeting conducted between Aburizal and PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri on Sunday evening also failed to reach a coalition agreement.
Golkar deputy chairman Fadel Muhammad said joining Gerindra's coalition would allow Golkar to have a stronger bargaining position in the formation of the next government.
'The Gerindra-led coalition will guarantee Golkar has several ministerial positions in the next government,' he said. (gda/ebf)
