Susan Sim, Jakarta – In an extraordinary display of the lobbying skills of Golkar leaders, party chief Akbar Tandjung was set to be elected Speaker of Parliament (DPR) without a vote being cast last night.

Banking on its earlier deal with the Central Axis bloc of Muslim parties, Golkar persuaded the Indonesian Democratic Party-Perjuangan (PDI-P) to come on board and so prevent a damaging showdown that would make it difficult for both to cooperate later in the final game – for the presidency.

If the post were to be contested, Mr Akbar would probably still squeak in past anyone fielded by the 204-strong alliance of PDI-P and the Nation Awakening Party (PKB) in the 500-seat House – much as the Central Axis' Amien Rais did in a Sunday vote for control of the 700-member People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

The double defeat would not only underscore the potency of the Muslim lobby against Ms Megawati Soekarnoputri, the PDI-P's chief and presidential candidate, but also expose anew her party's ineptitude in the cut-and-thrust of coalition-building politics.

Explaining why Golkar worked hard to get Mr Akbar acclaimed as House Speaker with PDI-P and PKB support rather than take it to the vote, deputy secretary-general Muchyar Yara said: "The problem is not that Megawati's people are arrogant, but that she doesn't think the post is important.

"But it is important, and if we vote against each other for it, then psychologically, the members from both sides are going to become more unsympathetic to each other. It will be difficult to cooperate on the presidential election later."

But sources said some Central Axis leaders were keen on a vote to drive a wedge between Golkar and the PDI-P even after reaching a consensus on Mr Akbar as Speaker. At midnight several legislators were still delaying proceedings as they haggled for a vote.

In contrast to Golkar, the PDI-P's lobbying skills have been showing up poorly under the spotlight.

Observers were shocked when it failed to secure a single regional ticket to the MPR from the Riau parliament on Monday despite being the second largest vote-getter in the province.

Golkar took three of the five seats, including one for Home Minister Syarwan Hamid, and the other two went to Central Axis parties. Each MPR seat is important to the PDI-P if it hopes to secure the presidency for Ms Megawati come October 20.

But at each turn, PDI-P has not only been left complaining that other parties "ganged up" against it, but an erstwhile Megawati ally, Mr Abdurrahman Wahid, has also suggested he might challenge her for the presidency.

A close aide of Mr Abdurrahman said he was making a play only to force her to change policies, while at the same time neutralise President B.J. Habibie's influence with the Muslim parties.

But signals have been conflicting even to the PDI-P, who privately dismiss Mr Abdurrahman as "unreliable".

Even if Mr Abdurrahman enters as a Central Axis candidate – thereby splitting Ms Megawati's support in PKB, the party he founded – he would still need Golkar and military votes.

But Golkar, locked in an internal struggle over Dr Habibie's candidacy, is likely to give Mr Abdurrahman short shrift. Reformers opposed to Dr Habibie are uncomfortable with any group playing the Muslim card, and individually are more likely to vote for Ms Megawati and her more inclusive brand of nationalist politics.

The military, now standing aloof as it contemplates its declining influence as a political player, will also be concerned not only with the backlash from nationalist hardliners, but will also have to calculate the risks of mass unrest if the popular Ms Megawati does not become president, analysts say.

For PDI-P legislators, the bottom line is this: As the majority party, they can obstruct any government by withholding support. Warned Mr Subagio Anam: "Any president who's not Megawati will be short-lived because we control Parliament."