Dicky Christanto, Jakarta – The Golkar Party and the People's Conscience Party (Hanura) unveiled Vice President Jusuf Kalla and Wiranto as their presidential and vice presidential candidates Friday, becoming the first partnership to declare their bid for the July 8 poll.
The announcement overshadowed the signing of a coalition agreement just a few hours earlier which involved 10 political parties, including Golkar and Hanura, to form a political bloc at the House of Representatives.
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democratic Party (PD) look set to follow suit in the coming days to complete a three-way race for presidency.
Defying a number of surveys that ranked him low in terms of acceptability, Golkar leader Kalla expressed optimism his partnership with former Indonesian Military commander Wiranto would prevail in the presidential election.
"I feel very confident that we can not only compete, but God willing will also win the upcoming presidential election. We have the qualities required to build a more effective and firm administration."
Among those qualities, he added, was the will to tackle problems without hesitation. "Letting oneself be drowned in the sea of hesitation only slows and sometimes prevents leaders from making the right decision for the sake of the people," he said.
Kalla and Wiranto were embroiled in controversy after the vice-president called the founder of Hanura "a free rider" during a Golkar convention in 2004 to select the presidential candidate, which Wiranto won. This year, the two bickered once more, but later held a reconciliation meeting.
Golkar announced a breakaway from its coalition with PD last week after intensive negotiations between the two parties collapsed.
Wiranto said he chose Kalla for a number of logical reasons. "Aside from the chemistry I have with Kalla, obviously Hanura failed to secure more than 10 percent of votes. So, if I insisted on naming myself as a presidential candidate then it would only create a shakier administration later on. I am being realistic," he said.
PD congratulated the Kalla-Wiranto partnership and said it looked forward to "fair competition" in the presidential election.
"The president and vice president have met face to face in the past and agreed that if they had to square off, the competition should be run fairly and in accordance with the rules," Democratic Party deputy chairman Andi Mallarangeng said.
He added his party was ready to cooperate with Golkar after the July 8 presidential election.
Kalla and Wiranto joined leaders from eight other parties – the PDI-P, Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP), Hanura, the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party, the Peace Prosperous Party (PDS) and the PKNU (National Ulemas Awakening Party) – in declaring the formation of a parliamentary coalition at the Hanura office earlier on Friday.
Gerindra founder Prabowo Subianto read out the coalition agreement, which stated they were ready to maintain economic sovereignty for the people and strengthen the unity of Indonesia as a nation.
"This coalition is not aimed at disrupting the political process, let alone tailored to disrupt other political parties. Instead, it is aimed at strengthening coordination in all levels of administration."
The United Development Party (PPP) did not sign the pact, citing internal rifts.