SBY May Change Political Map: Researcher

Jakarta (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono with his stature has the potential to change the current political map, according to a researcher. Didik J Rachbini from the Pusat Data Bersatu said here on Wednesday, "If SBY (Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono) took part, the political map may change. He certainly can influence given his 10 years in power. It will all depend upon who he will decide to coalesce with A, B, C or D," he said. The member of the National Economic Committee said the national political map was first changed after Jokowi (Jakarta governor Joko Widodo) declared himself as PDIP's presidential candidate. "The second change could occur if the president later endorsed a candidate," he said. Any candidate who will later receive the endorsement of SBY, whose popularity as the number one person in the country was still strong, would certainly see a surge in electability, he said. As an example, he referred to the case of Bill Clinton when he endorsed Barack Obama before the presidential election in the United States. "He (SBY) certainly will not decide now, but perhaps later. He had a trump card and the political map would change all at once (soon after he used it)," he said. (*) Reporting by Ade Irma Junida