Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Febriamy Hutapea & Camelia Pasandaran – The Bank Century votes may have come in, but the relentless lobbying must continue.
That was the message subtly delivered by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, leader of the Democratic Party, as one of his presidential aides confirmed on Friday that he planned to meet with Megawati Sukarnoputri, chairwoman of the opposition Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).
Plans to meet with Megawati came after a divided House of Representatives voted against the government to declare that its Rp 6.7 trillion ($730 million) bailout of Bank Century in 2008 was illegal.
"We received an order from the president to conduct open communications with leaders from other political parties, also with Megawati Sukarnoputri. We will meet Megawati... probably next week," Felix Wanggai, the president's special staff member for regional autonomy, said on Friday.
"This is just part and parcel of open communications we need to hold to gain support for the government's agenda. Previous communications [with political leaders] have not always been about Bank Century."
Political analysts have said it was just a matter of time before those members of the governing coalition declared "traitors" for voting against the government – the Golkar Party, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the United Development Party (PPP) – were replaced.
PDI-P members have told the Jakarta Globe that Democratic Party members were vigorously lobbying them to join the government's coalition. This was not, however, why Felix Wanggai was scheduled to meet with Megawati, according to a presidential aide.
Akuat Supriyanto, an assistant to the president's special staff, said the meeting was to focus on providing a detailed "explanation" to Megawati about corruption allegations involving a PKS lawmaker.
Felix and another presidential aide, Andi Arief, had both reported Mukhamad Misbakhun to police, after handing over evidence that the lawmaker had allegedly received part of the Bank Century bailout funds. Misba-khun has denied the allegations.
Felix and Andi had been tasked by the president to clarify and balance "the truth" in the Century scandal, Akuat said.
Felix's planned meeting with Megawati was intended to provide her with a "balanced view" of the Century scandal, Akuat said. "We have no intentions to politicize the case," he said, adding that the PDI-P had considered the bailout illegal, and Megawati is a figure "who upholds the supremacy of law."
Political observer Yudi Latif, of the Reform Institute, said the meeting was probably a more formal approach by the Democrats toward the PDI-P to extend the invitation once again to join the coalition.
"The Democrats know it would not be easy to form a coalition with PDI-P but they continue their efforts to improve their position, particularly after losing the vote [over Bank Century]," Yudi said.
He added that it was possibile the meeting was crucial as Megawati's husband, Taufik Kiemas, had failed to persuade the PDI-P to soften its stance over the Century bailout. "Pak Taufik is a respected figure in PDI-P but it is Megawati who has the final say in the party," Yudi said.
Taufik, who assumed the position of speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly with full support from the Democrats, has suggested to the PDI-P that discussions over joining the coalition should be held during a party congress next month in Bali.