Officially neutral, Dems members to vote freely

Fuente: 
The Jakarta Post
Fecha de publicación: 
02 Jun 2014

The Democratic Party says though it will officially remain neutral in the July 9 presidential election, it will allow its members to vote how the please.

Democratic Party deputy secretary-general Ramadhan Pohan said party chairman President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono would not push party members toward either presidential ticket.

“As a head of state, Pak SBY should not side with a certain candidate and that's a wise attitude,” said Ramadhan as quoted by kompas.com, during a press conference after an internal meeting at Yudhoyono’s private residence in Cikeas, West Java, on Sunday.

Ramadhan said Yudhoyono also gave party members permission to campaign for a certain candidate.

He also said many party members would attend an event held by Prabowo Subianto to present his platform on Sunday afternoon.

“It will help us to decide whether we will support Prabowo-Hatta or remain neutral,” said Ramadhan.

“If Prabowo-Hatta’s programs are in accordance with what our administration has done during the last 10 years, it will be safe for both our party constituents and Pak SBY [to support Prabowo-Hatta’s candidacy]."

Yudhoyono held a closed-door meeting with Prabowo and running mate Hatta Rajasa on May 19. Following the meeting, a number of senior Democratic Party members, including House of Representatives speaker Marzuki Alie and party advisory board member Ahmad Mubarok, declared their support for Prabowo.

Meanwhile, other party senior members, such as Dahlan Iskan, Suaidi Marasabessy and TB Silalahi, have come out for Jokowi-Kalla.

The Prabowo-Hatta ticket is supported by a Gerindra Party-led coalition, including the Golkar Party, the National Mandate Party (PAN), the United Development Party (PPP) and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS). The parties collectively won 292 or 45.3 percent of the total 560 seats in the House of Representatives in the legislative election.

Jokowi-Kalla is backed by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) in a coalition with the NasDem Party, the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the Hanura Party, representing 207 seats or 39.97 percent of the total.

 

Source/Fuente: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/06/02/officially-neutral-dems-me...