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Dems to support Taufik's MPR speaker bid
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democratic Party will likely back the bid for MPR speaker by the husband of Megawati Soekarnoputri, despite the bad blood between the former and incumbent presidents
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P
resident Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democratic Party will likely back the bid for MPR speaker by the husband of Megawati Soekarnoputri, despite the bad blood between the former and incumbent presidents.
Taufik Kiemas, chief patron of Megawati's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), is bidding to be the next MPR speaker to replace Hidayat Nur Wahid.
Analysts say the Democratic Party’s move is meant to entice the PDI-P, the opposition powerhouse, to join with Yudhoyono’s coalition.
Reports are also rife the PDI-P will get two Cabinet posts should it join the coalition.
“We're currently in discussions over Taufik’s candidacy,” Democratic Party deputy chairman Achmad Mubarok said Sunday.
Taufik's bid will also be boosted by the backing of Hidayat's Pros-perous Justice Party (PKS), the Democratic Party's biggest coalition partner.
“As part of the coalition, we agree with the Democratic Party on the issue,” said PKS legislator Nursanita Nasution.
“Taufik has a 90 percent of chance of being named the next MPR speaker.”
However, Nursanita said she personally doubted Taufik’s competence, citing his past track record as a legislator at the House of Representatives.
“What has he done in the last five years?” she said.
“He probably only came to work five times in those five years, for all I can remember.”
PDI-P executive Maruarar Sirait said Taufik’s candidacy did not indicate a change in stance by the party.
Megawati’s daughter, Puan Maharani, said her mother would determine the party’s next direction in October.
Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) political analyst Siti Zuhro said the possibility of the PDI-P joining with Yudhoyono’s bloc had to be monitored closely for the sake of democracy.
“If the PDI-P joins the Democratic Party’s coalition in the legislature, there'll be a very strong executive influence in the House,” she said.
“Not to mention if the Golkar Party decides to join in as well.”
The Democratic Party's coalition already controls 60 percent of House seats.
If Golkar and the PDI-P were to join, that would give it 90 percent.
“We don’t want to see an effective presidency turning into a repressive government,” Siti said.
She also warned about the possibility of an amendment to the Constitution to allow a president to serve more than two terms, should Taufik be named MPR speaker.
Democratic Party executive Ruhut Sitompul said the public need not worry about Yudhoyono’s support of Taufik.
“Pak Yudhoyono will always put the nation’s interests above all else,” he said. (hdt)
