PAN Hopes to Join With PDIP

Malang, E Java (Antara) - The National Mandate Party (PAN) hopes to join with the Indonesia Democratic Party Struggle (PDIP) during the presidential election, the party's chief, Hatta Rajasa, said here on Saturday. He said, however, that the party's decision to join with other parties would only be made later, after the results of the legislative elections on April 9 are known. "We have already communicated with other political parties for this purpose, although the party has already given me a mandate to run for president," he said after campaigning at Bima Sakti Sports Building. Hatta Rajasa, who is chief economic minister, said that he has already communicated with PDIP, which has chosen the Jakarta governor as its presidential candidate. He said his reaching out to other parties was meant to assure that progress will continue in Indonesia, and not for the good of certain groups and, therefore, PAN was also ready to join with other parties. Regarding the possibility of developing a central axis coalition, as in the last election, Hatta said that conditions were now different. He said the former coalition of Islamic parties was appropriate for the situation at that time. In the last general elections in 2009, PAN finished fifth, collecting 6.01 percent of total votes. According to the election law, a party must win minimally 25 percent of the nation's votes to be able to nominate its own presidential and vice presidential candidates, or it must join with other parties. (*) reporting by endang sukarelawati