A top Democratic Party official said on Tuesday that grassroots members were demanding that the party kick the Golkar Party and Prosperous Justice Party out of the governing coalition.
“We will do it if it is in the interest of the people,” said Moh. Jafar Hafsah, a deputy chairman of the party, adding that the issue would be discussed at the party’s national congress in May.
The party’s board, however, would not make a decision based on emotion only, as the Democrats wanted better cooperation between the government and the House of Representatives in the future, Jafar said. Members of the ruling coalition could withdraw their membership should they have a different stance from the Democrats, he said.
The Democratic Party has repeatedly pressured President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to reshuffle his cabinet after the results of the recent vote on the House recommendation concerning Bank Century bailout inquiry. Three members of the coalition — Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP) and the Prosperous Justice Party, also known as the PKS — voted against the Democrats.
The Democratic Party has since reportedly approached the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) to join the coalition.
The PKS, however, dismissed talk of being kicked out of the coalition, saying the Democrats had been approaching the PDI-P to improve their popularity ahead of the 2014 elections.
“I think it's just an expression of fear,” said Agus Purnomo, a top PKS executive.
“We will do it if it is in the interest of the people,” said Moh. Jafar Hafsah, a deputy chairman of the party, adding that the issue would be discussed at the party’s national congress in May.
The party’s board, however, would not make a decision based on emotion only, as the Democrats wanted better cooperation between the government and the House of Representatives in the future, Jafar said. Members of the ruling coalition could withdraw their membership should they have a different stance from the Democrats, he said.
The Democratic Party has repeatedly pressured President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to reshuffle his cabinet after the results of the recent vote on the House recommendation concerning Bank Century bailout inquiry. Three members of the coalition — Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP) and the Prosperous Justice Party, also known as the PKS — voted against the Democrats.
The Democratic Party has since reportedly approached the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) to join the coalition.
The PKS, however, dismissed talk of being kicked out of the coalition, saying the Democrats had been approaching the PDI-P to improve their popularity ahead of the 2014 elections.
“I think it's just an expression of fear,” said Agus Purnomo, a top PKS executive.
