Markus Junianto Sihaloho – The Golkar Party has wasted no time in cozying up to the president in the wake of Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati's exit from the nation's political stage, with its leader becoming "managing chairman" of the government coalition.
At a closed meeting on Friday between coalition parties, Golkar chairman Aburizal Bakrie was appointed managing chairman of the coalition, serving alongside secretary Syarif Hassan, from the ruling Democratic Party, and under chairman President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Sri Mulyani's rocky relationship with Aburizal dates back to when they both served in Yudhoyono's first cabinet. She told the Wall Street Journal late last year that the House of Representatives' inquiry into the Bank Century bailout was aimed at ousting her because Golkar officials did not agree with the reforms she was introducing.
The new coalition structure could likely serve as a exit strategy from the Bank Century scandal, which has Vice President Boediono in the crosshairs for possible impeachment.
Senior Democrat Anas Urbaningrum said Friday's meeting at Yudhoyono's residence in Cikeas, Bogor, was attended by the chairmen of all coalition parties as well as the cabinet ministers and House faction chairmen of those parties.
He said the participants had agreed on four issues: strengthening the coalition to help it better support the government; establishing a joint secretariat; establishing a comprehensive coalition in the government and in the House, without forcing coalition partners to compromise on their party lines; and discussing strategic issues within the joint secretariat that would later be implemented by all parties.
"This is the first concept of its kind in the country's political history, and a wise initiative by the president," Anas said. "It's the dawn of a new era of an organized coalition."
Hatta Rajasa, chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) and chief economic minister, who was previously coordinator for the coalition, has been conspicuously left without a role in the new structure, with Anas saying he was "only a common party chairman."
Mustafa Kamal, chairman of the House faction of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), said while no member of his party had been given a specific role within the new structure, he was optimistic it would be effective in galvanizing support for the government.
"The differences between the various parties are only to be expected, but this new structure represents an embryo for a better future," he said.
The new deal may ease political tensions raised by the controversial bailout of Bank Century in November 2008, which was authorized by Sri Mulyani and Boediono, who was central bank governor at the time.
Three coalition parties – Golkar, the PKS and the United Development Party (PPP) – opposed the government's stance that the Rp 6.7 trillion ($730.3 million) bailout was justified, and voted for the resolution that would later be adopted by the House to the effect that the bailout was flawed. The resolution also called for a criminal investigation into the bailout.
Anas said that from a "political perspective," the Bank Century case was now essentially over.
Ahmad Muzani, secretary general of the opposition Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), accused Golkar of playing up the Century case to suit its own interests.
He claimed Golkar was among a handful of other parties that built up the hype over the bailout to force the House to establish a committee of inquiry. They then used the committee's findings and the subsequent House resolution to bring pressure to bear on the government in exchange for certain concessions, he added.
"It's incredibly disappointing to see that certain groups stoked the Century fire simply to serve their own ends," Ahmad said.