TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Former vice president, Jusuf Kalla, said Islamic parties coalition ahead of presidential elections this year is difficult to be realized. "I'm sure they mean good, but it’s not easy because each party has its own way," he said earlier today.
According to the former Golkar Party chairman, the idea to form Islamic parties coalition is not that relevant anymore as almost all parties have become nationalist parties. The notions proposed by every party are no longer divided between Islamic or national interests.
Kalla said this coalition is also hampered by each party’s interest and Islamic parties are often not united in solving various issues. "How can they be united? They even have internal problems," he said.
The notion to form Islamic parties coalition has been emerging as lobbying between some parties and the main axis that is ready for presidential elections. The axis is the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) that nominates Joko Widodo, the Great Indonesia Movement Party that nominates Prabowo Subianto and the Party of the Functional Groups that nominates Aburizal Bakrie.
A series of activities has been conducted to mull this possible axis. Islamic parties met in front of Ismail Marzuki Park, Central Jakarta, to discuss Islamic parties coalition. Presidential candidate from the National Awakening Party (PKB), Rhoma Irama, previously held a meeting with several Islamic parties. He said to have been sent by PKB chairman, Muhaimin Iskandar.
IRA GUSLINA SUFA