Nasdem Ready to Accommodate Golkar Cadres

Jakarta (Antara) - General chairman of the National Democrat Party (Nasdem) Surya Paloh said his party will accommodate Golkar Party cadres who wish to support Joko Widodo and Jusuf Kalla in the presidential election on July 9. "We certainly will appreciate those who wish to strengthen the Jokowi-JK coalition," he said at Nasdem headquarters here on Wednesday. He said it will be up to them to decide about it, but what is clear is that the Jokowi-JK camp will appreciate those who are interested in supporting the pair. Asked if a participant of the Democrat Party convention will join his coalition, Surya said he had not heard about it but if it was true that was good. "The answer to it is simple. That is good," he remarked. Regarding the Democrat Party's decision to be neutral in the election, he said it was not a problem. "I think it is not a problem. But anyone who wishes to support Jokowi-JK will be welcome," he added. The deputy secretary general of the Indonesia Democratic Party Struggle (PDIP), Eriko Sotarduga, meanwhile, said PDIP hailed the decision of the party of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to be neutral in the election. "That will be good as the present government is currently still effective. We will support the stance," he said. He added that the stance of the party may be different from that of its supporters, referring as an example to the fact that not 100 percent of the Golkar Party members supported the Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa ticket. "Some may choose Jokowi. Perception of voters is different for the legislative and presidential elections. They are two different things," he said. Current Jakarta governor Jokowi from PDIP is set to run for president with former vice president Jusuf Kalla as his running mate. Meanwhile, PDIP has cooperated with Nasdem, the Nation Awakening Party (PKB) and the People's Conscience Party (Hanura) to support the pair. Jokowi-JK will compete with Prabowo Subianto and Hatta Rajasa, who are supported by six parties: the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), the National Mandate Party (Pan), the Golkar Party, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the United Development Party (PPP) and the Moon and Star Party (PBB). (*) Reporting by Syaiful Hakim