The Golkar Party has dealt President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's bid to form an effective government for the coming five years a major blow as coalition talks between the two collapsed.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, third from left
The split looks set to deepen the crisis of unity within Golkar ahead of its meeting of executives Thursday, as some party leaders say the decision to terminate the coalition with Yudhoyono's Democratic Party represented the wish of Golkar's central board of executives only.
Golkar secretary-general Sumarsono told a media conference the party executives granted chairman Jusuf Kalla, who is the incumbent Vice President, full authority to build communication with any potential allies it needs to win the presidential election on July 8.
“After almost a week of intensive political communications about the continuation of the Yudhoyono–Kalla duo, we failed to reach an agreement to form a coalition,” Sumarsono said.
A meeting of the party’s executive members, attended by Kalla, decided to search for a new alliance to compete in the presidential election.
“The meeting also gives a full mandate to Golkar chairman [Kalla] to open political communications with other parties to build a strong and effective government,” he said.
During the negotiations, Golkar was represented by Soemarsono, Muladi and Burhanuddin Napitulu, while the Democratic Party was represented by six members including its chairman Hadi Utomo, Anas Urbaningrum, Ruhut Sitompul and Marzuki Alie.
Golkar executive Syamsul Muarif acknowledged that Golkar had proposed a single candidate to Yudhoyono’s team, saying it was Golkar policy made last year.
“We can’t propose more than one name for a running mate because it was mandated at a leaders meeting in 2008 to propose one name from Golkar,” he said.
“But Ruhut said we could not dictate 'the owner' [Yudhoyono] of the coalition by proposing a single hopeful,” he said.
Yudhoyono hopes to form an effective government by forming a coalition with other parties that secure a significant amount of seats in the House of Representatives.
The Democratic Party expressed shock in response to Golkar's exit, as teams of negotiators for the two parties had agreed on most points of a coalition agreement draft, except for who would be Yudhoyono's partner.
In a press conference held at Yudhoyono's private residence in Cikeas, Anas said the Democratic Party respected Golkar's political rights. "But we are still open to future cooperation in any kind of forms with other parties, including Golkar," he added.
Party chairman Hadi explained that while Yudhoyono wanted Golkar to name more than one vice presidential candidate, Golkar had insisted on naming a single hopeful.
In Makassar, Kalla's hometown, supporters of his presidential bid blamed Yudhoyono for the collapse of the coalition talks.
The group, comprising businesspeople, students and community figures, said Yudhoyono had failed to uphold equality in building the coalition.
Source: Jakarta Post
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