Hans David Tampobolon, Jakarta – Two political foes – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democratic Party and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle – may be growing closer since the fallout from the Bank Century case, with several party officials indicating a willingness to join forces.

Recent developments, particularly in the Bank Century case, clearly showed the fragility of Yudhoyono's current coalition bloc, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) House of Representatives chairman Tjahjo Kumolo said Thursday.

"A strong government in a presidential system must be backed by a strong majority alliance in the legislative body," he said. "The recent ruling by the House of Representatives on the Bank Century case clearly showed that the government is fragile, and therefore has to be revised by [Yudhoyono]."

Following a vote, the House ruled that the November 2008 bailout was flawed and smacked of graft and that legal measures needed to be taken against those responsible for the policy, notably then Bank Indonesia governor Boediono and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati.

Among the parties voting against the bailout were three of Yudhoyono coalition partners – the Golkar Party, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the United Development Party (PPP).

A number of top leaders of the Democratic Party expressed their disappointment at the "mutiny" and suggested coalition agreements be reviewed.

Political analyst Burhanuddin Muhtadi from the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI) told The Jakarta Post that Tjahjo's statement was a green light to the Democratic Party on the possibility of building the unprecedented coalition. "The statement is also Tjahjo's way of testing the water... to find out how other PDI-P members would react," he said.

Meanwhile, a PDI-P senior politician, who insisted on anonymity, said the main reason for some of his party members considering joining the government's bloc was for financial reasons.

"Let's be honest here. There is no money to be made by being the opposition. The parties that gained massive benefits from the general elections are in the government bloc," he said.

PDI-P chief advisor Taufik Kiemas has his party's upcoming national congress in Bali in April would specifically discuss the coalition issue. So far, Taufik, whose election as the People's Consultative Assembly speaker received endorsement from Yudhoyono, is an advocate for a coalition between the two political rivals.

Democratic Party secretary-general Amir Syamsuddin said the possibility of the two parties forming a coalition was "interesting".

"However, our party will remain cautious of the idea. It is not clear yet whether the idea is PDI-P's official stance or just the personal opinion of some of the party's members," he told the Post.

Amir's colleague, Ruhut Sitompul, said the PDI-P would have to control its members better should such a coalition materialize.

"I truly respect [the PDI-P] as an opposition party because they are consistent in their stance, unlike a number of our coalition partners that change their minds easily," Ruhut said.