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JAKARTA: Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was behind his deputy Yusuf Kalla's successful bid to take the leadership of the country's largest political party Golkar, a report said.
Kalla, a wealthy businessman who was Yudhoyono's running mate in 2004 elections, told the Tempo weekly magazine that he decided to run for Golkar's chairmanship in December at the president's behest to boost political stability.
"I entered at the last minute, only five days before the elections. But this was at the instruction of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono," Kalla said.
"The development process needs political stability and therefore support from political parties is needed, not a permanent opposition."
Kalla beat incumbent Akbar Tanjung, who had threatened to bolster Golkar's position as an opposition party and hamper Yudhoyono's legislative programme.
Yudhoyono won a convincing victory in the country's first direct presidential election but his Democrat party secured only around 10 percent of parliamentary seats in a general election earlier in 2004.
Kalla's victory has steered Golkar, founded as a political vehicle for ex-dictator Suharto, behind Yudhoyono. It controls 23 percent of the seats in the 550-member parliament.
Kalla pledged to ensure that Golkar provides checks and balance to the government but said it would focus on major issues and not petty details.
"I have asked the Golkar party to remain critical, objective and proportional, so it should remain critical as long as it has strong underlying reasons," he said.
Kalla also reiterated his call for unity in Golkar, saying he has no plans to flush out Tanjung's supporters. "A good leader is one that can lead both his friends and former enemies," he said.
Kalla's leadership in Golkar is seen as a boon to the government. But analysts say it may spell long-term trouble for Yudhoyono as his deputy now has a power base that will stand him in good stead in the 2009 presidential election.
- AFP
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