Markus Junianto Sihaloho – Prabowo Subianto, who chairs the Great Indonesia Movement Party, or Gerindra, says he still intends to run for president, rather than seeking the number two slot on a ticket with former President Megawati Sukarnoputri.

"Gerindra has selected me as its presidential candidate," Prabowo said. "We still have to see the results of the legislative election."

The elusive former commander of Indonesia's feared Special Forces, or Kopassus, who was once married to one of former President Suharto's daughters, Siti "Titiek" Hediati Hariyadi, was responding to questions about his meetings with Megawati and Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, and with another presidential aspirant, former Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso, in Jakarta last week.

He said that neither Megawati nor her husband, Taufik Kiemas, had formally asked him to be the her running mate in the upcoming election.

It is unlikely that Prabowo will be able to muster sufficient political backing to contest the presidential elections. Candidates must have the official sup port of a party or coalition of parties that secure 20 percent of the seats in the House of Representatives or 25 percent of the popular vote.

Prabowo said, however, that he would be eager to accept an invitation to meet Megawati. He said that he shared many similarities with the former president, including shared views on nationalism and a focus on the need to fight for Indonesian sovereignty.

He also said that although his family was part of Suharto's New Order, he had always maintained a good relationship with Megawati, who became president after running on a platform of reform.