Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|
08JAKARTA1860 | 2008-10-03 08:04:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Jakarta |
VZCZCXRO7786 OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHJA #1860 2770804 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 030804Z OCT 08 FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0254 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5453 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 3116 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 1343 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 1314 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2292 RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY 4028 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 4968 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2561 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 3135 RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 3002 RUEHBAD/AMCONSUL PERTH 1175 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC |
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 001860 |
1. (C) SUMMARY: Indonesian President Yudhoyono has announced that he will run for re-election next year. He also made comments indicating that he was considering running again with Vice President Jusuf Kalla, though some say he was really keeping his options open. Yudhoyono's announcement that he's throwing his hat into the ring was expected, though the timing of his announcement surprised some observers. END SUMMARY. HE'S RUNNING AGAIN 2. (U) President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono declared to the media on September 28 that he would run for re-election next year. The first round of the presidential election is slated to take place in July 2009 with another round to follow if necessary later in the year. Yudhoyono's term is slated to end in October 2009. In the country's first ever direct vote for president, he won election to a five-year term in 2004. 3. (C) Although Yudhoyono was expected to run for re-election, the timing of his announcement, only three days before the Eid al Fitri holidays and nine months before next year's elections, took some by surprise. Yudhoyono is usually seen as somewhat indecisive, so the sudden announcement seemed out of character. Some observers thought he would wait several months more before making the announcement. RUNNING WITH CURRENT VP? 4. (C) In other remarks to the press, Yudhoyono also indicated that it was "highly possible" that he would run with Vice President Jusuf Kalla. Some observers thought that his comments were a positive indication that he was planning to team up again with Kalla, though the two have had problems at times in their relationship. Others saw the remarks more as an astute political move to try to suppress Kalla's own presidential ambitions and keep Golkar, the largest party, aligned with Yudhoyono's PD (Democratic Party). (Note: Kalla also serves as chair of the Golkar Party.) Dino Patti Djalal, presidential advisor and spokesperson, told the DCM on October 1 that the President's remarks were a none-too-veiled warning to Kalla that he had other options for vice president if necessary. MOVE WAS EXPECTED 5. (C) Yudhoyono's announcement that he's throwing his hat into the ring was expected. No one has ever doubted that he would run next year. As noted, there were some questions as to the timing with some observers thinking that he had really planned to make the announcement later, but perhaps had been rushed into doing it now. While Yudhoyono has made his intentions clear, he will almost certainly make an official announcement of his candidacy later with all the attendant bells and whistles. 6. (C) Many of the President's opponents have already announced that they are running, including former president Megawati. At this point, he is running neck-and-neck with Megawati in the polls and perhaps felt he had to get his campaign engines moving right away, hence the announcement. Re Kalla, it will probably take some time for the President to decide what to do. The national legislative elections take place in April 2009 and it is possible that the various presidential tickets will only fully gel after the parties have been tested in those polls. HUME |