VIVAnews - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla have agreed to alleviate the misunderstanding between the Functional Group Party (Golkar) and Democratic Party that has been going on for the past few weeks.
Both also agreed to continue their collaboration until the end of the Yudhoyono-Kalla administration in October 2009.
"They (Yudhoyono-Kalla) agree that Golkar and Democratic Party need to work hand-in-hand to create an established government based on the people's will," said the Presidential Spokesperson, Andi Alfian Mallarangeng, at the President's residence in Cikeas, Bogor on Sunday, Feb. 22.
According to Mallarangeng, the private meeting started at about 9.00pm and lasted for 45 minutes. "The Vice President explained about the dynamics going in Golkar to the President," he said.
The dispute between Golkar and Democratic Party reached its peak when on 9 February, the deputy chairperson of the Democratic Party, Achmad Mubarok, projected that Golkar's vote in the Legislative Election will only be around 2.5 percent. The statement directly offended Kalla as Golkar chairperson.
On 10 February, Kalla who was visiting Netherlands immediately asked the Democratic Party not to underestimate Golkar. "It's a nightmare if it's said that we can only get 2.5 percent. I'm still convinced that Golkar will be the biggest, around 25 percent," Kalla said at that time.
In the afternoon, Yudhoyono at Cikeas clarified his cadre's statement which was considered as underestimating Golkar. "There's never been any such intention or thought. Golkar is the Democratic Party's ally."
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Translated by: Ariyantri E. Tarman
