YUDHOYONO MOST SUITABLE TO PAIR UP WITH NUWAHID: OBSERVER

Jakarta, April 10 (ANTARA) - Political observer of the University of Indonesia (UI) Yon Machmudi said it would be most suitable for Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to pair up with Hidayat Nurwahid in the July presidential elections.

"Hidayat Nurwahid who is clean and lives a modest life is suitable to represent the majority of Indonesian Muslims," he said here on Friday.

However, a pair with Nurwahid would have smaller support in the parliament than the support Yudhoyono would have if he paired up with a candidate from the Golkar Party, he said.

But this shortcoming could be overcome with including the United Development Party (PPP), the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the National Mandate Party in the coalition, he added.

"For a time, Golkar needs to be excluded from the government so that Indonesia would enjoy a political change," the Yon Machmudi said.

He said that the quick count, which placed the Democratic Party in the top place and Golkar in the second or third place disrupted the previous map of 'coalition.'
Before the legislative elections there were blocs of 'coalition' called bloc S (Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono), bloc M (Megawati Soekarnoputri and bloc J (Jusuf Kalla).

"Now that the quick count showed unexpected results, Golkar seems to be losing passion. I am afraid that Golkar is willing to return to the Democratic Party again," the political observer said.

But, Mochmudi said, Yudhoyono is no longer convenient with Kalla. He possibly wanted to let Kalla go but not Golkar. "Here, Akbar Tanjung has the chance," he added.

On the results of Thursday's legislative elections Machmudi said that it was legitimate though it experienced quality degradation and people's participation.

"In term of its organization, this is the worst general elections Indonesia has ever had in its history," he said adding that the results remained legitimate however.***1***

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