Megawati-Prabowo To Register Candidacy
Saturday, 16 May, 2009 | 03:16 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle and its coalition partner, Great Indonesia Movement Party of (Ret) Lieutenant General Prabowo Subianto announced Megawati Soekarnoputri and Prabowo will pair for the July presidential race.

The announcement was made at Megawati's residence in Central Jakarta. Prabowo made the unusual declaration, where he as the vice presidential candidate, introduced Megawati as his running mate.

“I was offered to run with Megawati as vice presidential candidate.”

Megawati told the presser that her side has renounced the much sought positions of economic related posts to Prabowo if the pair won the election.

The negotiation between the two sides began before the legislative election in April 9th, although Megawati's side was more open for coalitin with Yudhoyono's leading party than Prabowo's side.

Prabowo ventured all coalition possibility except with the Democratic Party and his persistent call for presidential seat in the coalition had prolonged negotiations between the two sides. Combined votes of the two parties accounts for 18.4 percent of the popular votes.

The pair to register to the election office on Saturday (16/5).

DWI RIYANTO AGUSTIAR