TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Kalla, Megawati pledge to build strong government

A new duet: Megawati Soekarnoputri (left), chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), and Jusuf Kalla, chairman of Golkar Party, hold up letters of intent following their meeting in Jakarta on Thursday

Adianto P. Simamora (The Jakarta Post)
JAKARTA
Fri, March 13, 2009

Share This Article

Change Size

Kalla, Megawati pledge to build strong government

A new duet: Megawati Soekarnoputri (left), chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), and Jusuf Kalla, chairman of Golkar Party, hold up letters of intent following their meeting in Jakarta on Thursday. JP/R. Berto Wedhatama

Jusuf Kalla and Megawati Soekarnoputri, the heads  of the country’s two biggest political parties, met Thursday to explore a possible coalition in the presidential election.

No coalition deal was reached at the much-awaited summit, but Vice President and Golkar Party chairman Kalla signed an agreement with former president and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati, aimed at building a strong government that would enjoy majority support from the House of Representatives.

“Today is our preliminary meeting. There will be follow-up meetings aimed at intensifying communication between the two parties,” Megawati told a joint press conference after the 30-minute talk at a guest house in Central Jakarta.

The post-Soeharto era has been marked by political instability, with the government always short of majority support from the House.

Kalla was accompanied by Golkar chief adviser Surya Paloh, while Megawati was accompanied by her husband and PDI-P chief adviser Taufik Kiemas. The four had lunch at the same table.

The two leaders admitted the meeting did not touch on the delicate issue of the presidential poll.

“We enjoyed a great meal together, but the matter of the presidential and vice presidential candidates did not come up,” Megawati said.

The agreement reached at the meeting issued five points to improve the country’s economy and ensure free and fair legislative elections on April 9.

“If Golkar and the PDI-P have an accord for peaceful and fair elections, the people will of course follow in our steps,” Kalla said.

Both leaders said their respective parties had their own regulations for selecting presidential candidates.

“The PDI-P will hold a working meeting before July’s presidential polls to pick a vice presidential nominee,” Megawati said.

The PDI-P, the staunchest critic of the current administration backed by Golkar, is the first party to nominate its presidential candidate, naming Megawati for the post.

Kalla, with rock-bottom ratings in most polls, expressed his readiness last month to contest the presidency, after receiving support from Golkar's 33 provincial branches.

“We're still awaiting the results of an internal survey,” Kalla said when asked whether his candidacy was backed by his party.

Golkar and the PDI-P set up a so-called nationality coalition during the 2004 presidential election.

Megawati and her running mate Hasyim Muzadi lost in the second round of the vote to Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Kalla, both former members of her Cabinet.

Speculation is rife that Kalla and Megawati are seeking to join forces against Yudhoyono, who has announced his bid for reelection.

PDI-P secretary-general Anung Pramono said the executive boards of the two parties would soon discuss details of the meeting.

“The PDI-P and Golkar have much experience working together in regional legislative polls, and have won many of them,” he said.

“If the two parties can work together, I'm sure we can set up a strong government in the future.”

Recent surveys list Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party as the most popular, ahead of the PDI-P and Golkar.

The election law allows only parties or a coalition of parties that secure 20 percent of the vote or 25 percent of House seats to contest the presidential election.

{

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.