Red-White Coalition Members Meet President

Cikeas, Bogor, Sept 2 (Antara) - Numerous leaders and functionaries of political parties who are part of the Red-White coalition met President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono here on Tuesday morning. Present at the meeting were Idrus Marham and Tantowi Yahya of the Golkar Party, Fadli Zon of the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party, Syarief Hasan of the Democrat Party, Hidayat Nur Wahid and Fachry Hamzah of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), Romahurmuzy of the United Development Party (PPP), and Hatta Rajasa of the National Mandate Party (PAN), among several others. After the meeting, President Yudhoyono stated that the Red-White coalition members were present at his private residence to communicate with him. "The members of the Red-White coalition have just met me for having a dialogue as I am the president and leader of the Democrat Party," Yudhoyono noted. The head of state appreciated the coalition`s stance, which respected the Constitutional Court`s ruling on the results of the July 9, 2014, presidential election. "The meeting this morning was constructive because all the coalition members want to become part of the nation`s development and democracy," the president remarked. Yudhoyono expressed gratitude as the Red-White coalition has agreed to recognize the results of the presidential election and to serve the nation in the political realm. The Red-White coalition comprised seven parties: Gerindra, which is Prabowo`s party; PAN, which is the party of Prabowo`s running mate, Hatta Rajasa; the Golkar Party; the Democrat Party of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono; PPP; PKS; and the Moon and Star Party (PBB). However, several politicians had forecast that the Golkar Party will later shift its support to the Jokowi-Jusuf Kalla pair, if the ticket is eventually declared the winner of the presidential election on July 9. Golkar Secretary General Tantowi Yahya denied the claims, stating that his party, which was the runner up in the legislative election on April 9, will be consistent with its decision to stay in the Red-White coalition that supports the Prabowo-Hatta pair. The current deputy chairman of the House of Representatives Commission I noted that the idea was only conveyed by people outside the party`s board membership. Several Golkar Party politicians have signaled that the party can possibly move to support the Jokowi-Jusuf Kalla pair.