By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Feb 22 (ANTARA) - The government under President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla (SBY-JK) is expected to remain solid until the end of their tenure in October this year despite possible rivalry between the two in the coming presidential elections in July.
Political observers have aired concern that Jusuf Kalla's statement of readiness to be nominated as a presidential candidate would create a rift between them and hamper the running of the government.
The two leaders should have the commitment to run the government until the end of their tenure. Constitutional expert Saldi Isra of the West Sumatra-based University of Andalas was quoted by daily Kompas as saying that Kalla's statement would place himself in two difficult positions.
On one side, Kalla is in a position as vice president which requires him to harmoniously work together with Yudhohono in accomplishing their tenure until October while on the other side he is in a position as the president's rival.
His position as Yudhoyono's rival poses difficulties to the two to carry out their duties as president and vice president because it would split the cabinet into two, one supporting Yudhohono and the other Kalla.
Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKPI) Chairperson Meutia Hatta said that a decision to nominate Jusuf Kalla as Golkar's presidential candidate for the upcoming election should not disturb his relations with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
"It all depends on their individual character to remain together until their tenure is over. SBY-JK have made a commitment to remain together until their term in office ends in October 2009," Meutia said.
Kalla, who is also general chairman of the Golkar Party has stated his readiness to be nominated as a presidential candidate by the party. Kalla's stated readiness to take on Yudhoyono in the upcoming presidential election was feared to widen the rift between them.
After all, during a two-day national leadership meeting of the Democrat Party which was opened last Sunday, Democrat Party associate chairman Ahmad Mubarok made a controversial statement which sparked reactions from Golkar party cadres.
But Kalla has said that the pair should carry on well together until the end of their tenure in October because they had been elected by the people and not by their respective parties.
In the meantime, President Yudhoyono, Democrat Party advisory chairman, has also said that Kalla's statement saying he was ready to be nominated as a presidential candidate would not disturb their relations and would not affect the running of the government.
The president made the statement in an interview with Metro TV on Saturday night. Yudhoyono said he appreciated the stance taken by the Golkar general chairman to take part in the coming presidential contest.
The presidential election is scheduled in July this year.
According to Yudhohono a rivalry between a president and his vice president in presidential election has happened in the past when former president Megawati Soekarnoputri contested with her vice president Hamzah Haz in the 2004 presidential elections.
"I think JK and I understand well the ethics. Our relations so far remain good. So, I hope if in one time we are in a rivalry we would be able to maintain matters of propriety in carrying out presidential campaigns," the president said adding that JK's statement would neither affect the Democrat Party coalition with other parties in the government.
On Thursday, 33 heads of Golkar party provincial chapters asked Kalla during a meeting at his official residence to allow the party to nominate its own presidential candidate. Kalla said he was ready to run for presidency in line with the wishes of provincial chapters of the Golkar Party.
According to Meutia Hatta, Jusuf Kalla has the same right as other Indonesian citizens to be nominated as a presidential candidate for the upcoming election.
"I think everybody has the right to run for president, and Jusuf Kalla's nomination, in my opinion, is something normal," said Hatta who is also Woman Empowerment Minister in the present cabinet.
She said all parties should respect and appreciate Golkar Party provincial chapters' decision to nominate Kalla as the party's presidential candidate.
Secretary General of Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), Anis Matta, also hailed the intention of Kalla to run as a presidential hopeful in the coming elections.
"It would offer another choice for the people. I appreciate and hail Kalla's readiness to run for presidency," he said here on Sunday.
He said his party was considering to coalesce with Golkar in the presidential and vice presidential elections. "It will be an excellent pair if Kalla pair up with Hidayat Nurwahid as his running mate," he said.
In the meantime, member of Golkar Advisory Board Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, who has expressed his preparedness to be nominated as a presidential candidate said that even though Kalla had stated his readiness to run for presidency, the final decision on who Golkar would pick up had not yet been made.
"Golkar presidential hopeful would be decided at Golkar's special national meeting in March and would be announced after the April 9 legislative elections," he said.
He said that there was no problem with Kalla's intention to be nominated because he was one of the seven Golkar leaders tipped by Golkar's provincial branches.
At the same time, former Golkar chairman Akbar Tanjung also stated his readiness to be nominated as Golkar's presidential hopeful. He said he was now waiting for proposals from provincial branches of Golkar.
"Provincial chapters are asked to nominate seven candidates which would be selected further at a special national meeting and would be announced on April 23, 2009," Akbar said. ***1*** (T.A014/H-NG/A/H-YH) (T.A014/A/A014/A/H-YH) 23-02-2009 00:02:12
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