Bagus BT Saragih, Jakarta – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has been holding a series of meetings with several prominent figures as he approaches the tail end of his time in office amid waning popularity and as his ruling Democratic Party is ravaged by corruption scandals and political infighting.
Analysts said the President, who is barred by the Constitution from seeking a third term, was trying to consolidate support from various people, including his opponents, to make sure that his remaining year in office would be free from political jolts and that he could live safely after he stepped down next year.
On Thursday, Yudhoyono met with representatives of 12 Islamic organizations grouped under the Islamic Organization Friendship Body (LPOI). Among them were the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the country's largest Islamic organization; the Indonesian Islamic Preaching Council DDII, the Islam Union (Persis), and Al-Irsyad al-Islamiyah.
To these religious figures, Yudhoyono explained the challenges he had been facing, both in his administration and his Democratic Party, in a move that appeared to be aimed at attaining sympathy.
"We understand that the President's burden has become heavier lately, but we have assured him that we will not be tempted to get involved in political games. We, these Islamic organizations, will be behind the President until 2014," said NU chairman Said Aqil Siradj during a press conference after the one-hour closed-door meeting.
On Wednesday, Yudhoyono's special guests were seven retired generals who are mostly known for their affiliations with Aburizal Bakrie and his Golkar Party. They were Gen. (ret.) Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, Gen. (ret.) Fachrul Rozi, Gen. (ret.) Subagyo HS, Lt. Gen. (ret.) Agus Widjojo, Lt. Gen. (ret.) Johny J Lumintang, Lt. Gen. (ret.) Suadi Marasabessy and Lt. Gen. (ret.) Sumardi.
The meeting occurred only two days after Yudhoyono talked with former commander of the Special Forces Command (Kopassus) and chief patron of the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party, Lt. Gen. (ret.) Prabowo Subianto, at the former's office.
Yudhoyono's meeting with Prabowo is thought to have been aimed at exploring potential political deals between the two and their respective political parties. The former's Democratic Party has faced difficulties in picking a presidential candidate thus far while it has suffered from internal turmoil centering on the race for a new party chairman after Anas Urbaningrum, now a graft suspect, quit the position, last month.
Prabowo, who has topped many survey lists on the most popular presidential candidates, has been seen as Yudhoyono's most prospective "safe house" after 2014.
But the seven retired generals were said to be in opposition to Prabowo, prompting speculation that Yudhoyono was attempting to gauge their responses after his meeting with Prabowo two days earlier. Luhut Panjaitan said they had given names of potential presidential candidates to Yudhoyono and claimed that the President told him that he did not support Prabowo.
Jakarta State Islamic University political analyst Burhanuddin Muhtadi said Yudhoyono was trying to keep his enemies closer to keep his administration safe before and after the 2014 polls.
"He is now trying to politically embrace his enemies. Those who have met him are expected to act nicer and softer," he said, adding that his opponents would also benefit from such meetings.
House of Representatives Deputy Speaker, Pramono Anung, asked the public not to overreact to the meeting. "As the President, he has every right to meet whoever he wants to meet. I don't see any hidden agenda behind it. I encourage all of us to not overreact. Let's focus on efforts to prepare for the upcoming elections," he said.