Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – The Golkar Party's political engine is up an running on every level ahead of the 2009 elections, but the party seems determined to maintain political stability by refusing to announce its presidential candidates.

Golkar deputy chairman and House of Representatives Speaker Agung Laksono said at a press conference Monday the party's planned leadership meeting on November 22 to 24 would evaluate its performance in the past three years rather than nominating presidential candidates.

"Golkar's political machine is working to prepare the necessary hardware, particularly better political laws... to make it ready for the presidential elections," Agung said. "Compared to other parties, Golkar is the most prepared in terms of networking and human resources."

Agung said the meeting would evaluate Golkar's election-winning team by focusing on internal consolidation. "During the meeting, the team is expected to unveil the party's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats ahead of the legislative and presidential polls," he said.

"The central executive board will also listen to aspirations from regional party executives on how the legislative election should be anticipated and how the party should design its strategy to win the presidential election."

Agung said Golkar would not name its presidential candidates because it was politically tied up with its position as well as party chairman Jusuf Kalla – also the country's vice president.

"The meeting will set a new mechanism to net presidential candidates. And Golkar is expected to remain open for outside political figures to be nominated for the presidential race."

But he said the party had yet to decide on a possible coalition with other parties in the lead up to the elections.

Taufik Kiemas, chief patron of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), said recently PDI-P had formed a so-called National League with Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP) and the National Mandate Party (PAN) to win the presidential election.

PDI-P has nominated its chairwoman and Taufik's wife Megawati Soekarnoputri for the presidential race. Former Jakarta governor Sutiyoso has also announced his readiness to be nominated by political parties.

Priyo Budisantoso, chairman of the Golkar faction at the House, said Golkar was committed to building a better party system in the future by allowing parties to have business units to reduce financial dependency on the state.

"Golkar and other major parties are fighting to raise the electoral threshold to five percent from the current three percent and to impose a legislative threshold to build a strong legislature and government in the future," Priyo said.

"All the concepts around the political bills will be discussed (before being) disseminated to party functionaries at the subdistrict level."

But outspoken Golkar legislator Yuddy Chrisnandi said he and many other functionaries would propose the meeting focus on four main agendas including the evaluation of the party's performance in the past three years, Golkar's position in the government and listing candidates for the legislative and presidential elections.

"It is better for Golkar to name its presidential candidates now. Not only to prepare them but to let the public get to know them," he said. "The meeting should also decide whether or not a convention will be held to net Golkar's presidential candidates."

Yuddy said in addition to Kalla, Golkar had other potential presidential candidates including Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare, Industry Minister Fahmi Idris, Yogyakarta Governor Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, former party chairman Akbar Tandjung and National Resilience Institute Governor Muladi.