Jay Solomon, Jakarta – Indonesian presidential candidate Amien Rais said he couldn't rule out a possible coalition between his National Mandate Party, or PAN, and the ruling Golkar party following June 7 parliamentary elections. He stressed, however, his preference to unite with reformist parties, such as Megawati Sukarnoputri's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, or PDI Perjuangan.

"Golkar is a symbol of CCN (corruption, collusion and nepotism)," Rais said in an interview with Dow Jones Newswires. But "I can't close off all possibilities ... if for some reason we have to form a coalition with Golkar. Absoluteness is not a good policy."

Rais was among the staunchest critics of former President Suharto's 32-year rule and a played a pivotal role in forcing his resignation in May 1998. Since then he's formed the PAN party and announced his presidential candidacy, running on a platform of economic reform and the promotion of human rights and civil liberties.

PAN has faced difficulties, however, finding common political ground with key reform parties such as PDI Perjuangan and the National Awakening Party, or PKB. Both parties have stressed maintaining a secular state in Indonesia and voiced fears that Rais could introduce religion into politics.

Rais denied in the interview that he has any plans to introduce Islamic laws to Indonesia should he become president.

Many political analysts say PAN could be a key swing vote in deciding which coalition controls Indonesia's parliament and, subsequently, chooses the next president after June 7. If PAN is unable to ally with Megawati and the PKB, they note, Rais could choose to bolster a more Islamic block of parties lead by Golkar. This coalition, in turn, could choose Rais as their presidential candidate or reelect President B.J. Habibie.