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JAKARTA : The political temperature in Indonesia is rising just two months before the country's parliamentary elections.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has stepped in to defuse simmering tension with his Vice-President Jusuf Kalla.
The hastily-called news conference at President Yudhoyono's residence on Tuesday evening reflects the severity of the situation. The deputy chairman from his Democratic Party had reportedly offended Vice-President Kalla.
He had said that the Golkar Party - led by Mr Kalla - could possibly see its votes shrink to just 2.5 per cent in April's parliamentary election - down from the 24 per cent it had garnered in 2004. Such a result would likely lead the Democrat Party to find a new partner for President Yudhoyono.
Coming just days after Mr Yudhoyono had declared that he is keeping his options open on his future VP, the statement obviously did not go down well with Mr Kalla.
"Both Democrat and Golkar have not nominated anyone. But no one should dream that Golkar can only garner two per cent," said VP Kalla, who is also chairman of the Golkar Party.
To sooth the simmering tension, the president also came out strongly against the comment.
"To me, the statement is unexpected. I've never imagined that the Democrat Party is now discussing about my running mate - what more in the context of votes gathered by parties in the upcoming legislative election," said President Yudhoyono.
He also brushed aside suggestions that his relationship with Mr Kalla has been affected. "Our relationship has always been good. There are no fundamental problems affecting our relationship," said the Indonesian president.
President Yudhoyono hopes his explanation will calm things down and that the partnership with his vice-president will continue until the end of their term in November this year.
Things may have calmed down for now, but observers are expecting more fireworks as the horse-trading intensifies among political parties in the weeks to come. - CNA /ls
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