Mega 2009
Who would be the best running mate for Megawati in the 2009 election.
Megawati is determined to run once again for president in 2009, and her chances of success largely seem to depend on forming the best coalition, and having an appealing running-mate, or at least one more appealing than her 2004 partner, dull Hasyim Muzadi. These are the names which are usually mentioned in this respect:
- Akbar Tandjung
- Wiranto
- Sultan Hamengkubuwono X
- Hidayat Nur Wahid
- Sutiyoso
Other figures who have been mentioned in the past:
- Agung Laksono
- Jusuf Kalla
- Din Syamsuddin
Megawati’s best chance of success is thought to lie in an alliance with Hidayat Nurwahid of the PKS (Partai Keadilan Sejahtera), with Maruarar Sirait of the PDIP suggesting the two would be an unbeatable team, with the PKS strong in the towns, the PDIP strong in the villages.
Hidayat Nur Wahid
However Mohamad Nabil of the Centre for Religion and Culture at UIN says the PKS in joining up with Megawati would ruin its reputation for consistency, given that it has in the past rejected the idea that women can lead (see Khofifah Indar Parawansa), it’s most loyal supporters would lose faith in it, and see it as a “sell out”, a mean power grab.
Yudi Latif from the Reform Institute says the secular nationalism of the PDIP and the Islamism of the PKS cannot be reconciled. [1]
A recent poll by Indo Barometer, in the wake of fuel price increases, puts Megawati’s support at 30%, as opposed to president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on 20%. [2]
Tags: Agung Laksono, Akbar Tandjung, Din Syamsuddin, Elections, Hasyim Muzadi, Hidayat Nurwahid, Islamism, Jusuf Kalla, Megawati, Partai Keadilan Sejahtera, PDI Perjuangan, PDIP, Pemilu 2009, PKS, Political Parties, Politics, Sultan Hamengkubuwono, Sutiyoso, Wiranto
