Jakarta – Hopes abound within the Golkar Party leadership for a deal with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono not to change the winning team in the July presidential election.
Golkar chief advisor Aburizal Bakrie told reporters during his visit to Yogyakarta the party hoped to see its chairman Jusuf Kalla contesting the election as Yudhoyono's running mate once again.
"Golkar has decided to announce its presidential candidate after the April legislative elections, but my hope is the duo will be maintained," Aburizal said.
Yudhoyono and Kalla won the first direct presidential and vice presidential elections ever in 2004 by a landslide.
Yudhoyono's Democratic Party confirmed at the conclusion of its executive meeting Monday that it would discuss the issue of a running mate for Yudhoyono only after the legislative polls.
Golkar leaders will regroup in Jakarta for a national meeting this weekend, with talks on the presidential election and final preparations for the legislative elections topping the agenda.
Aburizal said the team of Yudhoyono and Kalla remained the "best chemistry" to lead the country in the coming five years.
A number of Golkar stalwarts have aspired for the presidency, including Yogyakarta Governor Sultan Hamengkubuwono X and Gorontalo Governor Fadel Mohammad. Their decision to contest the presidency outside the party mechanism has sparked anger among party leaders.
Kalla has faced mounting pressure to challenge Yudhoyono in the presidential election for the sake of the party's dignity.
In The Hague, Kalla said Golkar would refrain from discussing the issue of the presidential election until after the General Elections Commission (KPU) had unveiled the outcome of the legislative polls.
"Like the Democratic Party, Golkar has so far not decided on its presidential and vice presidential candidates," said Kalla, on the final stop of his 12-day overseas trip.
He was irritated, however, when commenting on Democratic Party deputy chairman Ahmad Mubarok, who had previously played down Golkar's prospects of winning the legislative elections.
"Never dream of seeing Golkar only secure 2.5 percent of the vote in the legislative polls. It will be a nightmare for them," Ahmad said.
Kalla said the party would prove doubters wrong, adding, "We expect for the best. If we work hard, we will win 25 percent of the votes."
Golkar finished first in the 2004 legislative elections with about 20 percent of the vote, followed by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).
The Democratic Party, the fifth largest in the 2004 election, has set a target of winning 20 percent of House seats or 25 percent of popular votes in the legislative elections. Achieving the target will allow Yudhoyono to rerun for a second term without having to form a coalition with other parties.