Jakarta – Four political parties are set to form a so-called National League ahead of the presidential election in 2009, according to Taufik Kiemas, chief patron of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

The four parties are the nationalist-based PDI-P, the Golkar Party, the Islam-based United Development Party (PPP) and the National Mandate Party (PAN).

"We will declare the league of the four parties in April 2008," he was quoted as saying by Antara on Saturday.

He said the four parties had decided to form a coalition because they shared a common interest adhered to the Pancasila state ideology.

Taufik, husband of PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, said the party controlling the greatest number of votes would have the right to name presidential candidates.

Meanwhile, Zannuba "Yenny" Ariffah Chafsoh Rahman Wahid, secretary general of the National Awakening Party (PKB), said a coalition between PDI-P and PPP would run into snags due to differences in ideology between both parties.

"We don't rule out coalescing with like-minded parties. We will possibly even take the initiative to form a coalition," she said.