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Democratic Party-PKB coalition, so far

NU Online  ·  Ahad, 26 April 2009 | 08:43 WIB

Jakarta, NU Online
Democratic Party deputy chairman Anas Urbaningrum says so far the party has only officially established coalition with the National Awakening Party (PKB), saying talks over coalition with other parties are not final yet.

Anas said here Sunday the Democratic Party had signed a coalition agreement with the PKB, and was on the eve of signing another with the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).<>

“We respect the internal process within the PKS, and are awaiting the same process within PAN (National Mandate Party) and other parties,” Anas told reporters on the sidelines of Democratic Party’s national leaders meeting at Jakarta Fair (PRJ) ground in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta .

“We have done intensive talks with some of the parties, but mostly they are still in wait for confirmation through internal party mechanism,” he was quoted by The Jakarta Post as saying.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said while opening the meeting that the Democratic Party needed to build coalition that would ensure the effectiveness of the Cabinet formed, including in term of its relation with the parliament.

“That is the goal of our coalition; not merely to pair this presidential candidate with that presidential candidate, or to distribute chairs within the Cabinet,” said Yudhoyono, also chief patron of the Democratic Party.

He also reiterated that the coalition must be based on rules and clear political contract.

“We don’t want one or two parties joining the coalition to later on make political moves that can overthrow the administration formed,” Yudhoyono said. (dar)