JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will stick to his decision to pick central bank govenor Boediono to be his running mate for the presidential election on July 8, Yudhoyono’s special envoy Hatta Radjasa said here on Tuesday evening. Hatta who is minister/state secretary said he had already met with leaders of the parties that would coalesce with Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party and asked them to support Yudhoyono’s choice.
"I think a long and objective process has been taken and therefore we will refer the decision to Yudhoyono. It is him who knows best who he considers meets the criteria set earlier. In view of that we need to give support," he said. He said chiefs of parties that would coalesce with the Democratic Party namely Suryadharma Ali from the United Development Party (PPP), Muhaimin Iskandar from the National Awakening Party (PKB) and Zulkifli Hasan, the secretary general of the National Mandate Party (PAN) were invited to the State Building Tuesday evening.
He said the leader of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) which also planned to coalese with the Democratic Party had also been invited but did not come to the meeting. During the meeting Hatta was flanked by Sudi Silalahi who is a cabinet secretary and the general chairman of the Democratic Party, Hadi Utomo.
Hatta and Sudi later reported the result of the meeting that lasted for two hours to Yudhoyono, current president, who is waiting at the State Palace. "I had talked with Suryadharma, Zulkifli Hasan and Muhaimin Iskandar that Yudhoyono had made the choice through thorough consideration and a long process. So it is not based upon one’s suggestion or others," he said.
Based upon mechanism in a presidential system of cabinet Hatta said it was appropriate that the vice presidential candidate was chosen by presidential candidate to avoid problems as all parties also proposed their own vice presidential candidates. "In view of that let us give our support to it," he said.
Hatta said he remained optimistic the coalition that the Democratic Party had built would not break down saying he caught signals from the meeting at the State Building that the coalition members would be able to accept it. "I think I have communicated all and it could be understood," he said.
Hatta said that he had continued communicating with the general chairperson of the Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), Megawati Soekarnoputri. He said he hoped the meeting between Megawati and Yudhoyono could happen soon or before the Yudhoyono-Boediono ticket was declared on May 15.
"Certainly I am praying for it. I do not dare to make a speculation. We can only pray it will happen," he said.
