Grass roots want PPP to join Jokowi-Kalla

JAKARTA. United Development Party (PPP) secretary-general M. Romahurmuziy confirmed on Tuesday that the party’s regional membership had appealed for the party to leave the Red and White Coalition, which supported losing ticket Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa in July's presidential election, and join the camp of president- and vice president-elect Joko “Jokowi” Widodo-Jusuf Kalla.

“I can say there are equal numbers of those who want to stay with the Red and White Coalition and those who want to join Jokowi and Kalla,” Romahurmuziy said at President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s private residence in Cikeas, West Java.

Romahurmuziy, along with other politicians who endorsed Prabowo-Hatta's presidential bid, met with Yudhoyono to reiterate their commitment to remain outside government when Jokowi-Kalla assumes office in October.

Analysts, however, have predicted that the PPP will switch allegiances and become a government supporter.

Several politicians from Jokowi-Kalla's camp said the PPP was waiting for a succession in the party's leadership and, hence, a change in its political stance, following the detention of its chairman, Suryadharma Ali, by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Suryadharma has been named a suspect for allegedly abusing his position and misusing funds while managing the haj program when he was religious affairs minister.

Romahurmuziy, however, said that the party’s statute did not require an immediate succession if the chairman was named a suspect in a criminal investigation. “We respect the ‘presumption of innocence’ principle,” he said.

He admitted that many of the party's members, including members of its sharia council, had asked Suryadharma to resign from his position.

“Their request was made on the basis of ethics. Whether or not Suryadharma acquiesces depends on Suryadharma himself,” Romahurmuziy said. “So far, he has insisted on not [resigning].”

He added that the PPP’s central executive board would soon hold a meeting to discuss the mounting demands from the regions for the party to join Jokowi-Kalla’s camp.

It is hoped that the PPP and the National Mandate Party (PAN) will join Jokowi-Kalla’s coalition and so satisfy the pair’s hopes of securing a majority of political support in the House of Representatives. (Bagus BT Saragih)