•    HOME   
•    NEWS   
•    BUSINESS   
•    INTERNATIONAL   
•    TECH   
•    SPORTS   
•    LIFE & TIMES   
•    OPINION   
•    MY JAKARTA   
•    BLOGS   

The likelihood of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle joining President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party-led coalition is increasing every day, Democratic Party deputy chairman Ahmad Mubarok said on Sunday.

Just two days earlier, presidential spokesman Heru Lelono told the Jakarta Globe that he was “99.99 percent sure” that the party of Yudhoyono’s former rival, which is also known as the PDI-P, would join the coalition.

“The PDI-P is thinking about its long-term goals. The idea [of the PDI-P joining the coalition] is becoming very real,” Ahmad said.

“The idea has been lurking around for some time and has been discussed with Pak Tjahjo [PDI-P House faction chairman Tjahjo Kumolo]. If the three parties [Golkar, PDI-P and the Democratic Party] become one and the coalition is solid, it becomes the political anchor because the charms of religious-oriented parties are fading,” Ahmad said.

He was referring to the Islamist Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), which together with its fellow coalition member Golkar, voted against the government to seek a criminal investigation into the controversial bailout of PT Bank Century.

Analysts have said the Democrats are more likely to kick the PKS, rather than Golkar, out of the coalition because it has been a more difficult party to negotiate with.

Until now, the PDI-P’s official line has been that without a clear signal from party chairwoman Megawati Sukarnoputri it would not join the coalition under any circumstances.

During a party meeting on Sunday, Megawati, who is in her third term as chairwoman, warned senior party members to hold on to the party’s ideology to defend the people’s welfare. She proposed to evaluate the performances of party members and said that any party officials who failed to adhere to the party’s ideology were more than welcome to leave.

Despite Megawati’s determination not to join the coalition, her husband, Taufik Kiemas, and PDI-P secretary-general Pramono Anung have indicated they would favor becoming part of the government’s political bloc.

Pramono has said the PDI-P may revoke its opposition stance during its annual congress in Bali next month, scheduled for April 5-9, at which a new leader will be selected.

Ari Dwipayana, political analyst at Yogyakarta’s Gadjah Mada University, told the Jakarta Globe that the split within the party was because some people wanted access to power, while others wanted to maintain the party’s political independence.

“Being in the opposition makes them dehydrated,” he said. “There is lack of access to political power resources. Moreover, there are PDI-P party people like Miranda Goeltom and Panda Nababan, who are now in trouble and need rescuing.”

Ari was referring to investigations into a bribery scandal related to the appointment of Miranda as Bank Indonesia senior deputy governor in 2004, which involves 19 former and sitting PDI-P lawmakers.

“The Democrats are putting political pressure on both Golkar and the PKS, who have betrayed the Democrats during the Century vote,” Ari said.

However, Megawati would not give up her viewpoint easily, he said. “Indeed, she could use the momentum to clean the party of those who are disloyal to her,” Ari said.



Additional reporting from Antara