PPP COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING SBY-JK UNTIL OCTOBER

Jakarta, Feb 28 (ANTARA) - United Development Party (PPP) Chairman Suryadharma Ali said his party was committed to supporting the Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono-Jusuf Kalla administration until the end of its term in October.

"The PPP has a commitment to continue supporting Yudhoyono and Kalla until their term in office is over," Suryadharma Ali said here on Saturday.

He said the PPP and all other parties in the present government had made a commitment to maintain their support for the government until at least after the legislative election in April.

After that, he said, all political parties would in principle be free to make up their own mind.

"The PPP has so far not yet made any commitment with any other party to support any presidential candidate, and has yet to coalesce with any other party," Suryadharma Ali said.

Therefore, he said, the PPP still had many options in terms of forming a coalition with other parties to support a certain presidential candidate, including Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Suryadharma said he did not want his party to have a narrow field for communication with other parties.

"Therefore, we try to open our doors to any presidential candidate and any political party to coalesce," he added.