Abdul Khalik and Irawaty Wardany, Jakarta – Vice President Jusuf Kalla has hinted at his readiness to stand as President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's running mate in the 2009 presidential election.

"I will accept any position as long as I can contribute to the development of the country," he said on Monday.

But Kalla's plans for the election are subject to the wishes of the Golkar Party, of which he is chairman. "In the end it will depend on Golkar's decision."

Kalla said he and Yudhoyono had been getting along quite well during the past four years and that there would be no problem if they were to team up again for the presidential election.

Yudhoyono broke months of silence on Sunday by declaring he would run for reelection next year and that Kalla would very likely be his running mate. Golkar politicians have welcomed news of Yudhoyono's apparent intention to pick Kalla as his running mate.

Golkar deputy chairman Theo L. Sambuaga voiced his delight with the announcement, saying it was what most of the party's members wanted. "It represents the wishes of most Golkar members and leaders. Most of us still view the pair as the best for the country," he said.

Golkar lawmaker Harry Azhar Azis also said the majority of Golkar supporters wanted Kalla to team up with Yudhoyono again.

"Yudhoyono's willingness to keep Kalla as his running mate in the upcoming election shows that the President considers his partnership with Kalla a success," he said.

Yudhoyono, who won a landslide victory in the country's first direct presidential election in 2004 over former president Megawati Soekarnoputri, is still seen by many as the strongest contender for president.

A series of recent surveys has shown the election could be a repeat of his 2004 duel with Megawati.

Political experts, however, have warned that in leaning toward Kalla, the President could be limiting his opportunities to gather support from other major political parties, including longtime ally the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).

Analyst Bima Arya Sugiarto criticized Yudhoyono's apparent intention to pick Kalla as a "hasty" move that could deny support for the pair from other power centers. "The move will close the doors on potential support from other parties including the PKS and moderate Muslims at Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama."

Bima said the announcement would push the PKS and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) to step up talks about possibly forming a coalition.

Senior PDI-P politician Gandjar Pranowo said that although his party would wait for Golkar's official response to Yudhoyono's announcement, it would revise its current strategy and step up talks on alternatives. "The PKS would be a perfect option," he said.