Yeremia Sukoyo, Ezra Sihite, Erwin Sihombing, & Markus Junianto Sihaloho, Jakarta – Golkar Party chairman and presidential candidate Aburizal Bakrie has expressed his willingness to become a vice presidential candidate for Great Indonesia Movement Party founder Prabowo Subianto in the upcoming election as speculation on the two parties' coalition grow after recent meetings.
"I do not mind [being vice presidential candidate], and neither does Prabowo," Aburizal told reporters after a meeting with Prabowo in Hambalang in Bogor, West Java, on Monday. He added that during the meeting, both parties agreed on a common political stance for the elections.
"Prabowo talked about his policies and they look good. We also talked about small businesses and providing a bigger job market," Aburizal said. "We will hold more talks. It does not matter who will be number one or number two, our only concern is what is best for the country. Such positions are merely instruments in our efforts to improve people's welfare."
Prabowo on his part also indicated that his party would be looking into a potential political partnership with Golkar.
"Soon we would like to have a political partnership. We are optimistic about doing something good for the people and for our country. We promise to meet and talk more," Prabowo said. "When the time is right, we will make an announcement. Our priority is to find the best people to take Indonesia forward."
The meeting between the politicians follows an earlier meeting on April 29, where the two met to discuss the political landscape ahead of the elections, inspiring speculation of a possible coalition between their parties.
Responding to Aburizal's statements, Golkar spokesperson Tantowi Yahya said the move would likely be discussed at the party's central executive board (DPP) meeting set for Tuesday evening.
"There will be a DPP meeting. It will be a national leaders meeting and whether or not the branch offices will be invited, all of that will be discussed tomorrow and of course it is likely the meeting [on Monday] with Prabowo will be discussed."
Tantowi played down speculation about Aburizal and Prabowo's pairing, emphasizing that everything will have to wait for his party's national leader's meeting.
Political analyst Ray Rangkuti said that Gerindra and Golkar's plans to form a coalition would give way to a new political dynamic and that the members of Golkar may reject Aburizal's position as a vice presidential candidate.
"Because according to their [earlier] national leaders meeting, Aburizal's mandate was to be a presidential candidate. If it was a vice presidential candidate [Golkar] was looking for, of course there are many other names Golkar can propose," Ray said on Monday, citing names such as Akbar Tanjung and Priyo Budi Santoso.
Previously, party stalwart Akbar had spoken out against Aburizal's nomination as Golkar's presidential candidate.
Additionally, Ray said the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) will have to be considered, as they have also been in talks with Gerindra and have even prepared three names that could potentially be nominated as candidate for Prabowo's vice president.
The National Mandate Party (PAN), another party that has been in talks with Gerindra, may reconsider its coalition plans, despite surveys showing Prabowo and PAN chairman and current coordinating minister for the economy Hatta Rajasa were a relatively promising pair.
"If PAN were to support [Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle, or PDI-P, presidential candidate] Joko Widodo, then it is likely there would be just one round of the presidential elections, and PAN could once again be part of the government," Ray said.
Gerindra deputy chairman Fadli Zon said over the weekend that his party had made no decision regarding PAN, emphasizing that Gerindra was still weighing its options for partners.
"Our communications with Hatta is positive, there is chemistry, but there has been no final decision yet," Fadli said in Jakarta on Sunday, adding that Gerindra was also in talks with Hanura chief patron Wiranto.
According to him, Gerindra will be deciding its vice presidential candidate after a coalition has officially been formed. "We're not going there yet. We'll get there after the coalition," he said.
The latest survey by Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SRMC) showed that Joko remains the most electable candidate today, with Prabowo in second place.
However, SRMC researcher Sirojudin Abbas warned that the situation was prone to change should PDI-P take the wrong steps.
"Without a vice president, Joko would earn 51.6 percent, while Prabowo would earn 35.7 percent. But this competition could vary if we were to include their vice presidential candidates," he said.
Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/poor-poll-results-drive-aburizal-prabowo-others-arms/