A Bugis Businessman’s Double Deal
After initially willing to only be a vice-presidential candidate, Golkar Party Chairman Jusuf Kalla is now announcing his candidacy for the Indonesian presidency. Provincial party leaders are supportive. Many suspect Kalla just wants to reduce friction within party ranks: if Golkar does not get as many votes as the Democrat Party—as predicted in various polls—he will team up again with Yudhoyono.
March 3, 2009
THE guests sat respectfully around the meeting table. Jusuf Kalla was at the head of the table. Not a single Golkar Party central board member was there. On that Thursday morning two weeks ago, the Golkar Provincial Leadership Board Chairpersons representing all regions of Indonesia only wanted to speak with their party chairman. At 7:30am they had already gathered at Jusuf Kalla’s private residence on Jalan Diponegoro in Menteng, Central Jakar
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