TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The chairperson of the central executive board of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Puan Maharani, said that her party would welcome the Golkar Party and the People’s Conscience Party (Hanura) to join the PDI-P-led coalition. Puan said that the PDI-P had been in intensive talks with both parties.
“What’s important is that we share similar visions and missions,” Puan said at her office on Wednesday, May 14, 2014.
Puan said the partnership between the three would be aimed at maintaining good ties between the government and the parliament.
PDI-P’s secretary general Tjahjo Kumolo said support from the current members of the party's coalition had been adequate for Joko Widodo to run for president. But the PDI-P would welcome other parties willing to join the coalition, he added.
The PDI-P’s decision to welcome Golkar in the coalition had purportedly not been favored by Jokowi’s supporters. They said that the PDI-P’s alliance with Golkar was a step backward to bringing changes to the country.
MUHAMMAD MUHYIDDIN
