Yudhoyono postpones plan to declare running mate

Yudhoyono postpones plan to declare running mate

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Sat, 05/09/2009 5:34 PM | National
Democratic Party' Associate Chairman Ruhut Sitompul said in Jakarta on Saturday a plan to declare the party's presidential and vice presidential candidates has been postponed from May 11 to May 15.

"The plan for the declaration has been postponed from May 11 to May 15, waiting for SBY (Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono) to come back from attending the World Ocean Conference (WOC) to be held in Manado. Because as the president, his schedule is very tight. He prioritizes the state's tasks," Ruhut said as quoted by Antara state news agency.

The declaration would be done in Bandung, West Java Province.

"There, we will announce the name of the vice presidential candidate and our coalition. All friendly political parties will be invited," he said.

After the declaration , the Democratic Party will register officially its presidential and vice presidential candidates with the General Elections Commission (KPU) on May 16, or the deadlines of the presidential and vice presidential candidate registration, he said.

"The registration will be conducted after the declaration. So, it would probably be the last one," he said.

Sitompul did not deny when asked whether the postponement was because his party was waiting for a response from the Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDIP) to a coalition offer.

He said t the Democratic Party had held several meetings with Taufik Kiemas, chairman of the PDIP's advisory board.

"We understand the position of PDIP and Mrs. Megawati. She was a former president, is a stateswoman and the leader of a major political party. Therefore, we understand and will wait. The Democratic Party is patiently waiting for PDIP. We understand each other. As a matter of fact, we want everybody to be happy. We want to have victory without hurting any body," he said.

In the PD's executive board meeting, Ruhut Sitompul also reported that his party would have 147 seats in the new Parliament.
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Sat, 05/09/2009 5:34 PM | National
Democratic Party' Associate Chairman Ruhut Sitompul said in Jakarta on Saturday a plan to declare the party's presidential and vice presidential candidates has been postponed from May 11 to May 15.

"The plan for the declaration has been postponed from May 11 to May 15, waiting for SBY (Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono) to come back from attending the World Ocean Conference (WOC) to be held in Manado. Because as the president, his schedule is very tight. He prioritizes the state's tasks," Ruhut said as quoted by Antara state news agency.

The declaration would be done in Bandung, West Java Province.

"There, we will announce the name of the vice presidential candidate and our coalition. All friendly political parties will be invited," he said.

After the declaration , the Democratic Party will register officially its presidential and vice presidential candidates with the General Elections Commission (KPU) on May 16, or the deadlines of the presidential and vice presidential candidate registration, he said.

"The registration will be conducted after the declaration. So, it would probably be the last one," he said.

Sitompul did not deny when asked whether the postponement was because his party was waiting for a response from the Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDIP) to a coalition offer.

He said t the Democratic Party had held several meetings with Taufik Kiemas, chairman of the PDIP's advisory board.

"We understand the position of PDIP and Mrs. Megawati. She was a former president, is a stateswoman and the leader of a major political party. Therefore, we understand and will wait. The Democratic Party is patiently waiting for PDIP. We understand each other. As a matter of fact, we want everybody to be happy. We want to have victory without hurting any body," he said.

In the PD's executive board meeting, Ruhut Sitompul also reported that his party would have 147 seats in the new Parliament.