TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Three parties in the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party-led Red and White coalition—the Democrat Party, the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the National Development Party (PPP)—have reportedly been exploring possibilities with top politicians from rival Jokowi-JK camp to jump ship.
“There have been talks involving officials of several parties,” Rio Patrice Capella, the secretary general of the National Democrat (NasDem) Party, told Tempo on Monday, August 25, 2014.
Rio said the talks began after Sjarifuddin Hassan, the chairman of the Democrat’s central executive board (DPP), met with his counterpart of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Puan Maharani. He added that Zulkifli Hasan, the chairman of the DPP PAN, also met with NasDem chair Surya Paloh. “From the PPP, it was Suharso Manoarfa,” he said.
Aside from representatives of the three parties, a number of Golkar Party cadres have also made a similar move albeit it was not entirely backed by all officials of the party, which is now beset by internal rifts.
Rio said the PDI-P led coalition would welcome any party willing to join it to support the Jokowi-Kalla administration. “As long as they share the same visions to fight for the people’s and the nation’s interests. That’s the principle,” he said.
RIKY FERDIANTO