Coalition Necessary For 2014 Win: Golkar Party Member Says

Jakarta, Oct 22 (Antara) - The Golkar Party will have to form a coalition with other parties to ensure a victory in the general elections due next year, a party member said here on Tuesday. "For Golkar, (forming) a coalition with other parties is necessary to strengthen its position in the parliament. This is based on the consideration that no single party will be able to secure a majority of more than 40 or 50 percent in the next parliamentary elections," Tantowi Yahya said here before attending a plenary session of the House of Representatives (DPR). He made the statement when asked to comment on the Golkar Party`s plans to form a coalition with the Indonesia Democratic Party - Struggle (PDIP). Asked whether the Golkar had approached the PDIP for a tie-up, he said had no information on this yet. "I do not know about (any) recent move. But when the Golkar`s chances of getting elected were still high, this had indeed been taken up informally. We have often communicated (our intention) to parties, including PDIP, informally," explained Tantowi, who is a member of DPR`s Commission I. Commenting on the rise in the PDIP`s chances of getting elected, Tantowi said the Golkar will discuss the chances of all parties competing in the 2014 parliamentary elections to ascertain the Golkar`s odds of a victory. "Apart from the national leadership meeting, we have also discussed this during routine meetings because in a competition, strong rivals will have the potential to disrupt our dream of becoming the winner in the elections," he said. With regard to Golkar`s presidential candidate, Tantowi stated the party will stick to its decision to nominate its general chairman Aburizal Bakrie as its candidate, even if it is forced to unite with other parties. "Aburizal Bakrie will remain the Golkar`s candidate," he observed. In connection with the national leadership meeting next month, Tantowi said that the party will discuss candidates for the post of vice president. "I think the most interesting issue that will be discussed at the meeting will be the question of who will be the running mate of ARB (Aburizal Bakrie)," he remarked. He admitted that in meetings held so far several names have come up, such as former Constitutional Court Chief Justice Mahfud MD, Cabinet Minister Dahlan Iskan, and Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo. The decision on ARB`s running mate will be taken by the general chairman himself, he added. "The issue will certainly be discussed at the meeting later. But in keeping with the mandate of last year`s meeting, ARB himself will decide the vice presidential candidate," he said. Indonesia plans to hold parliamentary elections in April 2014. These will be followed by a presidential election later in the year.