Keeping it a Surprise
Jusuf Kalla is still Yudhoyono’s strongest potential running mate. Supporters of both Kalla and SBY are trying to keep them on the same ticket. However, announcing it prematurely is seen to be benefitting the Golkar Party. So, like he did in 2004, SBY will declare his running mate at the last possible minute.
February 17, 2009
DRIVING on the city toll road in Jakarta, on Tuesday morning last week, Ahmad Mubarok, the Democrat Party deputy chairman, received a text message on his cellphone. The sender was Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), the party’s chairman of the board. “Be careful when making public statements.”
Mubarok was en route from his home in Pondok Gede, East Jakarta to Central Jakarta. Traveling in his Isuzu Panther van, he did not answer the message. �
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