PPP, GOLKAR MAY COALESCE

Jakarta, Jan 21 (ANTARA) - There are signals of the possibility of a coalition between the United Development Party (PPP) and Golkar Party but it will be confirmed after the legislative election, PPP chairman Suryadharma Ali said.

"There are signals in that direction (coalition) but it will be decided after the legislative election," Suryadharma Ali said after a meeting with Golkar chairman Jusuf Kalla at the latter's residence on Jalan Diponegoro here on Thursday.
PPP and Golkar Party leaders held a closed-door meeting for about one hour.
Ali said the United Development Party and Golkar had similar political visions and therefore it was easier for the two parties to coalesce.
"The decision to coalesce will be made after the legislative election because each party at present is concentrating on expanding itself," Ali said.
Asked if PPP would support a Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY))-Jusuf Kalla (JK) ticket in this year's presidential election, Ali said his party had yet to make up its mind on the matter because it was still uncertain whether SBY nad JK would team up.
"What we are seeing at the moment is an imaginary pair but the real one will be known after the legislative election. So we cannot say we support SBY-Kalla because we don't know if Kalla wants to pair with SBY or not," Ali said.