SBY still undecided over VP candidate

Thursday, April 23, 2009 10:28 AM

SBY still undecided over VP candidate

Erwida Maulia , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Wed, 04/22/2009 12:35 PM | Headlines

The Golkar Party is flexing its muscles ahead of a key meeting to select a running mate for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, or perhaps its own candidate for the presidential election on July 8.

Golkar chairman Jusuf Kalla hosted a meeting with party provincial chapter leaders and executives at his private residence in upmarket Menteng on Tuesday evening.

"We will continue talks and take a decision tomorrow *Wednesday*," Golkar deputy secretary-general Rully Chairul Azwar said.

Yudhoyono said he was looking forward to hearing the results of the Golkar meeting and insisted he had not picked a running mate.

"Rumors have been circulating that I have had a vice presidential candidate from Golkar or other parties. But, my answer is the same: I haven't talked at all about who will be my vice presidential candidate," Yudhoyono told a media conference at the State Palace.

Golkar has so far been split into rival camps with four alternatives: pushing for the Yudhoyono-Kalla ticket; for Yudhoyono's re-election with a running mate from Golkar other than Kalla; nominating Kalla as the presidential candidate or supporting a new coalition to fight Yudhoyono's Democratic Party.

The Golkar meeting came two days after Yudhoyono unveiled a number of criteria for his running mate, which observers and some Golkar leaders believe would dump Kalla out of the race.

An angry Golkar politician said the party would be prepared for the worst by quitting the coalition with the Democratic Party.

In an apparent move to contain the damage, Yudhoyono said on Tuesday he had met Kalla privately on Monday to maintain the coalition between the two parties both in the government and in the House.

The President, however, stopped short of referring to Kalla as his vice presidential candidate.

"Everything is still in process. Talks still continue. And to this extent Golkar and the Democratic Party have the same will to continue our alliance in coalition in the government and in the parliament, along with some other parties."

"My meeting with Pak JK *Kalla* was part of the exploration to build the coalition. We stop there."

Separately Golkar senior politicians Akbar Tandjung said he was ready to contest the election as Yudhoyono's running mate.

"If most people think that I am capable then they may do so," Akbar said at his home on Tuesday.

Akbar said that people might favor him as the vice president because of his past achievements.

"I have been involved with the party and politics since 1973. I was a legislator from 1977 to 1988 and under my leadership, Golkar managed to survive a grim, critical period which was filled with terrors and interventions," said Akbar, who led Golkar between 2000 and 2005 and the House between 1999 and 2004.

Akbar refused to rate his chance.

"My candidacy depends on political mechanisms and SBY. But if SBY decides to name me as his running mate, then I am ready," he said.

The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) suggested Yudhoyono pick a non-partisan running mate or a professional to avoid conflict of interest.

"The PKS will not nominate any names to SBY. But if SBY's next running mate happens to hold a top position in any political party, then it is advisable for that person to step down from his position in the party," PKS faction chairman Mahfudz Siddiq said in Jakarta on Tuesday. (hdt)