Devi Asmarani, Jakarta – President Megawati Sukarnoputri has decided to team up with the leader of the country's largest Muslim organisation in a bid to boost her support base for the July presidential election.
The move to pick Mr Hasyim Muzadi over her current vice-president Hamzah Haz has forced one of her strongest rivals, former military chief Wiranto, onto the backfoot. Mr Hasyim, who was courted by both contenders, chose the Megawati camp over the retired general's, leaving the latter with a secondary option that could chip away at his campaign.
The Straits Times understands the decision was nearly final; although the pairing would not be formally announced until tomorrow, when the President's Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDI-P) is due to hold a press briefing.
Mr Hasyim's close aide, Mr Ahmad Bagja, told The Straits Times: 'The final decision would be announced by the PDI-P, but I can tell you they are both strongly inclined to join forces.' The day before, Vice-President Hamzah Haz had put an end to speculation about his future with Mrs Megawati, saying Mr Hasyim would likely be named a vice-presidential candidate.
Mr Hamzah also said he was considering entering a coalition with Golkar or the Nation's Awakening Party (PKB), as he was no longer a choice for president.
A source in the PDI-P said most party executives last week agreed at a leadership meeting that Mr Hasyim would be a better running mate for the party's chairman than Mr Hamzah, who leads the Muslim-based United Development Party.
'We all agreed that Megawati needs a partner who comes from the Islamic background to accompany her nationalist credential,' said a member of the PDI-P leadership board.
"And out of the two choices, we think Hasyim is more saleable than Hamzah because he has more charisma and he represents change." The Muslim cleric is expected to attract the 40-million strong NU followers to bolster PDI-P's support base.
NU sources said Mr Hasyim picked the President over the general as he had been in close communication with her camp for the past six months.
The cleric is also uncomfortable with Mr Wiranto's military background and his reputed closeness to the family of former Indonesian president Suharto.
"Wiranto's links to the New Order regime and the military could backfire on Hasyim and NU," a high-ranking NU official said. "A lot of people were unhappy during the New Order time, and we were afraid too that in the end we would just be left out again despite having helped Wiranto win."
Left with fewer choices for running mate, Mr Wiranto is currently courting another NU cadre, Mr Solahudin Wahid, a brother of former president Abdurrahman Wahid.
Analysts said with such a choice, Mr Wiranto has a tougher chance of surviving the first of two rounds of the presidential elections against his top rivals Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the incumbent president.
But his chances could greatly increase if he could secure the blessing of Mr Abdurrahman, a former NU chairman who still wields influence over party members.
Mr Abdurrahman has rejected Mr Hasyim's political bid, a move that has split the organisation. Many NU members could go against the will of the leadership by backing the candidate endorsed by the former president.
This is why the PDI-P is holding back on announcing its decision, pending Mr Abdurrahman's approval. Sources in the PDI-P said Mr Abdurrahman, also known as Gus Dur, had rebuffed several attempts by the party to approach him for his blessing of Mr Hasyim's nomination.
Yesterday, another of several scheduled meetings between Mr Abdurrahman and Mrs Megawati in Yogyakarta was cancelled. But both the PDI-P and Hasyim camps insisted yesterday that the partnership would continue regardless of Mr Abdurrahman.
"Yes, we are still trying to get Gus Dur on our side, but if he keeps changing his mind, we would have to go on without his green light," said the PDI-P source.