GOLKAR DECLARES KALLA-WIRANTO AS ITS PRESIDENTIAL PAIR

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, May 1 (ANTARA) - The Golkar Party and the People's Conscience Party (Hanura) moved faster on Friday by officially declaring their leaders presidential and vice presidential candidates for the upcoming presidential race on July 8, 2009.

        With the declaration, the Golkar and Hanura parties have officially nominated Jusuf Kalla (JK) and Wiranto as a presidential and vice presidential ticket for the presidential polls.

        The JK-Wiranto ticket is the first presidential pair to be declared. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who is Democratic Party (PD)'s presidential hopeful and Megawati Soekarnoputri, presidential candidate of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), have yet to make up their mind on their respective running mates.

        With the declaration of JK and Wiranto as a presidential and vice presidential pair, it is most likely that there would be three presidential pairs who would compete in the next presidential race.

        Besides the JK-Wiranto pair, there are two other presidential hopefuls who have not yet picked a running mate. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will surely be the presidential hopeful of the coalition formed by the Democratic Party. The party decided to nominate Yudhoyono in its National Meeting on April 26, 2009. But Yudhoyono has yet to pick a name for his running mate. The media still speculated on names who will accompany Yudhoyono as his running mate.

        The other presidential hopeful who is certain to step forward for the presidential race is the PDIP chairwoman. But Megawati has not yet chosen her running mate, though some speculated that she would likely pick Prabowo Subianto of the Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra).

        Following the decision of Golkar to announce its presidential and vice presidential candidates, the Democratic Party expressed its appreciation and congratulations.

        Previously, Golkar and the Democratic Party had built political communications to form a coalition. But Golkar decided to terminate the talks due to failure to achieve an accord on how to build the coalition.

        The exit of Golkar from a possible coalition with the Democratic Party raised speculations that Golkar would face difficulties in finding a partner of coalition especially with PDIP. Golkar in its special national leadership meeting had decided to nominate Kalla as its presidential candidate. In the meantime, PDIP has also nominated Megawati as its presidential hopeful.

        It turns out however that Golkar is even able to come up as the first party to announce its presidential ticket.

        On the declaration of JK-Wiranto as a presidential candidate pair, the Democratic Party expressed its appreciation. "If Kalla and Wiranto have decided to pair up, the Democratic Party will appreciate and at the same time congratulate them," PD Chairman for Human Resources Development Andi Mallarangeng said.

        He said that the Democratic Party hoped that the upcoming presidential contest would run ethically. "If it is true that JK and Wiranto have decided to pair up then we will congratulate them and hope that the presidential contest would run fairly," Andi, who is also a presidential spokesman said.

        Yudhoyono and Kalla are respectively incumbent president and vice president but with Kalla's decision to run for president in the next polls, they will contest with each other.

        However both leaders have agreed to compete fairly and ethically based on the rules of the game.

        Other Democratic Party associate chairman Anas Urbaningrum said his party warmly welcome the declaration of Kalla and Wiranto as presidential and vice presidential candidates.

        "This is a denial of fears that there would only be a single presidential and vice presidential candidates," Urbaningrum said a moment after Kalla and Wiranto declared their decision to pair up in the coming presidential contest. Recently, PDIP had threatened to boycott the presidential elections due to alleged fraud by the General Elections Commission (KPU) in the recent legislative elections.

        Urbaningrum congratulated the newly declared the JK-Wiranto pair. "Congratulations to Kalla and Wiranto who are the first to be declared as a presidential pair," Urbaningrum said expressing his hope that all parties would create a democratic and respectable competition climate.

        The Democratic Party itself is still concentrating on building a coalition.

        "The National Awakening Party (PKB) has agreed to join us while the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) is still under a finalization process. We are optimistic that the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the United Development Party (PPP) will also join the coalition," Urbaningrum said.

        He hoped that PAN would soon confirm its readiness while PPP would follow later. "On the vice presidential candidate, the matter is left to Yudhoyono as the presidential hopeful to decide. We do not insist on Yudhoyono to announce it soon. So, there is no need to be in a hurry," he said.

        What is important, according to Urbaningrum, is that the Democratic Party would not be late in registering its presidential and vice presidential pair at the General Elections Commission (KPU). ***1*** (T.A014/A/H-NG/a014)

        (T.A014/A/A014/A/A014) 02-05-2009 00:53:42