Jakarta – The Golkar Party is eyeing alternative coalitions with other key major political groups, in case the current Yudhoyono-Kalla pairing turns sour.

Coalitions with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) or the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) would be possible options, senior Golkar executive Priyo Budi Santoso told a discussion in Jakarta on Friday.

He was of the opinion that Golkar would have several options if President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono were to choose another running mate.

Speculations about new allegiances is only one consequence of the current political tensions between Yudhoyono's Democratic Party and Golkar, which Vice President Jusuf Kalla chairs.

PDI-P's secretary-general Pramono Anung Wibowo did not rule out a Golkar link up with the PDI-P as long as Kalla would be willing to run as vice president. "If the Democratic Party leaves, Golkar will not be alone," Pramono told The Jakarta Post.

He said Golkar has a good relationship with the PDI-P and they could work together to win the legislative and presidential elections. Tides may have turned. In the 1990s the PDI-P and Golkar became locked in a massive power struggle.

"A duet between the PDI-P and Golkar is more likely than between the PDI-P and the Democratic Party," Pramono added.

Priyo, who chairs the Golkar faction in the House of Representatives, said the PKS was another possibility. He predicted Golkar would name Kalla as its presidential candidate and take a vice presidential candidate from another party.

"The vice presidential running mate will probably be Hidayat Nur Wahid [PKS] or [former Jakarta governor] Sutiyoso," Priyo said.

Priyo, however, also mentioned if Golkar were to win more than 20 percent of the votes, the vice presidential candidate would be chosen from within the party. "I think, the coming presidential elections may go two rounds as it did in 2004. And I am absolutely optimistic the alternative coalition will win," he said.

Political expert J. Kristiadi from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said Golkar would form a better coalition with the PDI-P, if the SBY-JK duo splits.

Today's national leadership of Yudhoyono and Kalla came about when the Democratic Party and Golkar formed a coalition going into the 2004 elections.

"My prediction is, if Kalla wants to run for president, the vice president will come from the PDI-P," Kristiadi told reporters on the sidelines of Friday's discussion.

Golkar will wait for April legislative election results before announcing their presidential candidates.

Kristiadi expressed surprise at the parties' strategy of keeping a close hold on their presidential candidates until after the general elections. "Announcing presidential candidates early would be more effective than waiting for the legislative election results," he said.

In the 2004 elections, Golkar took more than 25 percent of the vote. However, Kristiadi warned, if Golkar loses in the elections the party might find it difficult to actively oppose the new government.

"Golkar has gotten used to winning elections and always becoming the ruling party. Party members have no experience being the opposition," he said. (naf)