President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Golkar Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie had held a number of meetings recently, House Deputy Speaker Priyo Budi Santoso of Golkar said on Thursday, though he denied suggestions the meetings were in any way related to Sri Mulyani Indrawati being ousted as finance minister.

"I admit that Pak SBY and Pak Ical have often met to discuss national problems," Priyo told Detik.com.

He said the two men would visit each other at their respective residences. "It's just a normal thing to do because we are the two biggest parties in Indonesia," he said referring to Golkar and Yudhoyono's Democratic Party.

Priyo denied the meetings related to Sri Mulyani, who has been targeted by Golkar – and coalition partner – and opposition parties over her role in the Bank Century bailout.

There are also claims that Bakrie, a controversial businessman and former cabinet minister, has had repeated run-ins with Sri Mulyani, a respected technocrat and reformer.

Priyo said Sri Mulyani had accepted the World Bank's offer to serve as its managing director of her own free will.

"It as only rumor and I officially deny it," he said of the talks that Sri Mulyani was pushed from her job. "We won't put our party's credibility at stake for personal political deals that will only degrade the party," he claimed.

Priyo, however, hinted that Golkar would end its pursuit of the Century bailout investigation. "If Sri Mulyani is out of the political and legal loop after she resigns, Golkar will respect it. Even if the case is closed, Golkar will have no problem with it," Priyo said.