Yudhoyono cajoles various figures to join Dem’s presidential primary

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President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who chairs the Democratic Party, has asked several top figures to participate in the party’s primary, including House of Representatives Speaker Marzuki Alie.

Marzuki, deputy chairman of the party’s supreme assembly, is said to be the only party member with Yudhoyono’s endorsement to join the convention.

Speaking to reporters at his office on Tuesday, the House speaker said that he was ready to join the 2014 presidential race.

“Pak SBY himself has asked me to prepare for the convention. He has made his message clear in daily conversations as well as text messages that he sent to me. I believe that he is serious about this,” Marzuki told reporters on Tuesday, referring to Yudhoyono by his initials.

Marzuki said that other than himself, Yudhoyono also suggested three national figures who were not members of the party could join the primary: Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan, Regional Representatives Council (DPD) chairman Irman Gusman and former Constitutional Court chief justice Mahfud MD.

“An internal committee has registered my name and those of figures from outside the party who have often been cited as potential presidential candidates in the newspapers,” he said.

The party, which became more centralized when Yudhoyono took over its leadership from Anas Urbaningrum, decided to hold a primary to nominate a presidential candidate. With Yudhoyono barred by the Constitution from seeking a third term, the party has no figure who is popular enough to compete in 2014.

Rumor has it that the President is grooming his brother in-law, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Pramono Edhie Wibowo, to succeed him. Pramono will retire in June.

Mahfud said he was ready to participate in the Democratic Party’s caucus. “It will be a great opportunity. It will open the door for presidential hopefuls with no affiliation to political parties to get nominated,” Mahfud said on the sidelines of a book launch at the Constitutional Court on Tuesday. “I cannot say anything further about this but that I’m ready for any options.”

Mahfud has topped several surveys on potential presidential candidates along with former vice president Jusuf Kalla and former Special Forces commander (ret.) Let. Gen. Prabowo Subianto of the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) party.

Gita too has previously expressed his readiness, saying that he would join the race “if asked”.

Irman also said last week that he would take part in the Democratic Party’s presidential caucus. “If they ask me, I am ready,” he said as quoted by Antara.

Primaries are used by political parties in the United States to select presidential candidates. The Golkar Party held a convention which selected Gen. (ret.) Wiranto as a candidate for the 2004 presidential election.

The Democratic Party’s move to hold a presidential primary is seen as an attempt to win back the support of voters. The party is struggling to get back on its feet after being ravaged by a slew of corruption scandals and friction.

“Other parties already have their own presidential candidates, but not the Democratic Party. We will select candidates through a primary election or a party convention,” said Yudhoyono earlier this month.