Dicky Christanto, Jakarta – The National Mandate Party (PAN) has dashed hopes of a deal with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), joining forces instead with the Democratic Party of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
PAN vice presidential candidate Hatta Radjasa confirmed his party's commitment to supporting Yudhoyono in the July 8 presidential election when he visited PDI-P leader Megawati Soekarnoputri on Wednesday.
"Pak Hatta held talks with Ibu Megawati on many topics, including PAN's current political stance which is to be with SBY," PDI-P secretary-general Pramono Anung said after the closed-door meeting.
Hatta is the first PAN executive to have officially announced the party's decision to join the coalition with the Democratic Party. No PAN executive appeared at the signing of a parliamentary coalition by 10 parties at the People's Conscience Party (Hanura) office last Friday.
PAN leader Sutrisno Bachir held a series of meetings with counterparts of parties that would form an alliance to fight the Democratic Party-led coalition.
When asked about his visit, Hatta failed to provide a clear answer. He only said his visit was related to state business. "I am here to confirm to Ibu Mega the ownership status of this house. This house is hers now," Hatta said.
Megawati began to live in the house on Jl. Teuku Umar in Menteng upmarket area in Central Jakarta when she took office as the president in 2001. According to regulations, Megawati, in her capacity as former president, was entitled to receive from the state a plot of land and a house in a premium Jakarta location.
Pramono said Hatta also delivered a message from Yudhoyono to Megawati, saying the president expected that the upcoming election could serve as a medium to enhance democracy.
Pramono dismissed any possibility that the PDI-P might name Hatta as the running mate for its presidential candidate Megawati after a proposed coalition between PDI-P and the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) looked to crumble.
"Megawati has already pocketed the name of the vice presidential candidate, thus as of now she has the right when and where to announce it," he said. He added that negotiations between PDI-P and Gerindra were still underway.
Megawati is slated to announce her running mate following a PDI-P executive meeting on Thursday. PDI-P chief advisor Taufik Kiemas had warned earlier the party might delay the announcement of its presidential and vice presidential candidates, saying the issue needed to be handled with care.
"We would wait and see the current political situation before coming up with any decision regarding the ticket," Taufik, Megawati's husband, said.
Separately, Arbi Sanit from the University of Indonesia suggested Megawati should drop any plan to have Gerindra founder Prabowo Subianto as her running mate as the latter would not give up his bid for the presidency.
"Instead Megawati should use the opportunity given by Jusuf Kalla who has allowed Golkar members to contest the election under the banner of rival parties. The most strategic yet pragmatic way is for Mega to choose her running mate from Golkar," he said.