Desy Nurhayati, Jakarta – Leaders of the Democratic Party and the National Awakening Party (PKB) met Monday to discuss the possibility of forming a coalition for the presidential election.

The meeting, held just three weeks before the April 9 legislative elections, could see the intensification of a coalition between the parties, increasing President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's chances of winning a second term as president.

The PKB, which garnered 10 percent of popular votes in the 2004 legislative elections, placed two ministers in Yudhoyono's Cabinet.

The idea of a coalition was hinted at during a meeting between PKB Chairman Muhaimin Iskandar and Secretary-General Lukman Eddy, who is also state minister for disadvantage regions; and Democratic Party Chairman Hadi Utomo and Deputy Chairman Anas Urbaningrum, at the PKB's headquarters in Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Monday evening.

The leaders of both parties however claimed that the meeting was a normal political communication between parties and a way of maintaining silaturahmi (a good relationship).

"The coalition between the Democratic Party and the PKB is not a new thing. We have joined forces in the current government and in several municipal and regional elections," PKB Chairman Muhaimin Iskandar said after the meeting.

"We were discussing how to guard a secure, peaceful and smooth election process. We have a similar will to succeed in the election."

Utomo advised the public not to misinterpret the meeting. "We will do the same thing with other parties, and we will talk about a firm coalition after we have found out each party's total votes after the legislative elections," he said.

Hadi dismissed speculations that the Democratic Party was puzzled as to which party it would form a coalition with after the Golkar Party made it clear that it will nominate its own presidential candidate, ending Yudhoyono and Vice President and Golkar Party Chairman Jusuf Kalla's partnership.

He also said that the Democratic Party had yet to select a running mate for Yudhoyono in the presidential election. "The vice presidential candidate could come from any party, it could be from the PKB, or Golkar or any party."

Also attending the meeting was head of the Democratic Party's House faction Syarief Hasan and its Secretary-General Marzuki Alie.

Muhaimin said that his party was committed to supporting Yudhoyono and Kalla as the country's president and vice president until the end of their tenure in October.

"We also continue to consolidate within our party to name a candidate in the upcoming presidential election, among the names we will likely to propose is Yudhoyono. But we will decide only after the legislative elections, while maintaining good communication with many parties," he said.

"We are willing to build a strong government in the next tenure and it is not all about sharing the power."

Ahead of the legislative elections major political parties continue to discuss possible coalitions with one another for the presidential election.

Before holding a meeting with the PKB, the Democratic Party held discussions with the Prosperous Justice Party, while Golkar leaders met with leaders of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and the United Development Party (PPP). The PDI-P also intensified their lobbying by holding a meeting with Prabowo Subianto's Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra).