Tom Allard Herald, Jakarta – The Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, has shed his customary political caution and chosen a pro-Western and pro-market central bank governor, Boediono, as his vice-presidential candidate without consulting his coalition partners.
The selection of Dr Boediono, to be formally confirmed today, has left Dr Yudhoyono's Islamist allies threatening to withdraw support, because they view Dr Boediono as a "neoliberal" and because they were told of the choice by a junior aide.
Riding high in the polls and emboldened by a decisive victory in last month's legislative election, Dr Yudhoyono is emerging as a far more assertive political strategist as he seeks a second five-year term as president. In his first term he developed a reputation for indecisiveness.
"He is now very, very confident about his popularity so he really doesn't give a damn," said Muhammed Qodari, a political analyst from Indo Barometer. "He doesn't really care about the reaction from other political parties in his coalition. Maybe he wants to show them he's in charge."
While Dr Yudhoyono's main coalition partners have threatened to withdraw support this week, none have acted to do so. The disgruntled parties, the Prosperous Justice Party and National Mandate Party, were meeting last night to consider their position. The signs were they would come back to Dr Yudhoyono. If they do, it will confirm his newly expressed political strength.
Dr Boediono, who goes by one name, has a reputation as a talented economic policy maker but lacks any political base and is not well known by most Indonesians. He has close links to the West – he was educated in the US and Australia – and favours further economic liberalisation.
"SBY's political opponents will target Boediono," Mr Qodari said. "He could become an Achilles heel for SBY. His pro-Western and pro-market views will become the target."
Presidential and vice-presidential candidates have until tomorrow to nominate, and the jockeying by various parties is becoming more intense.
It is almost certain that Dr Yudhoyono and Dr Boediono will run off against a ticket of the current Vice-President, Jusuf Kalla, and the former general Wiranto.
A third entrant is likely to be the former president Megawati Soekarnoputri, with the former general Prabowo Subianto as her running mate. They held talks yesterday and declared themselves close to an agreement. Ms Soekarnoputri was expected to make an announcement late last night.