Golkar and PDI-P form an alliance.

In Medan, North Sumatra on June 25th thousands of people witnessed the declaration of an alliance between the country’s two largest political parties, Golkar and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (Partai Demokrasi Indonesia Perjuangan (PDIP)), declared by Surya Paloh from Golkar, and Taufik Kiemas from PDI-P.

Surya Paloh.

Taufik Kiemas, the husband of former president said that the purpose of the alliance was to develop the country together and work as one in facing national and local elections. He said that the coalition was formed because both parties share the same ideology, although he did not state what this was. mediaindo

Taufik Kiemas, & other half.

Presumably what Taufik meant was something along the lines of support for Pancasila, and nationalism, and non-sectarianism in religious matters.

Wimar Witoelar.

Commentator Wimar Witoelar says however that in reality neither party has an ideological basis, any ideological symbols used are simply for display purposes, are essentially meaningless (perhaps like Pancasila), and that both parties exist merely as:

…recruitment and placement agencies for politicians…

The problem for both parties today, and hence their decision to ally, is that

…placement targets are not being met.

On the question of religion Indo Barometer director Muhammad Qodari said the Golkar and PDI-P coalition might cause the creation of an opposing alliance, an Islamic one. He worried that a secular versus religious party political system would not be healthy for the country. okezone

Tifatul Sembiring.

The President of the Partai Keadilan Sejahtera (PKS) Tifatul Sembiring believes the two parties apparently fear losing to a PKS candidate in the 2009 presidential election. Given that his party won only 7% of the vote in 2004 Tifatul said Golkar and PDI-P were being irrational and paranoid. He said he was opposed to the nationalist versus Islamic dichotomy, the PKS combined the two streams into one. detik