Indonesia's Democratic Party decides to be opposition

The fourth largest Democratic Party (PD) led by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Thursday made a decision not to propose any of its politician in the new administration and not to join the party coalition led by largest Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), deputy chairman said.

Deputy Chairman of Democratic Party Syarief Hasan stressed that his party, that posted the fourth rank in the legislative polls on April 9 with 10.19 percent votes, would launch criticism should the new government's policy not to take a side on the people interest and give disadvantages to the nation.

The PDI-P, the winner of legislative poll on April 9, nominated winner Joko Widodo of Indonesian presidential polls on July 9, and set up a party coalition with the National Awakening Party (PKB), the National Democratic Party (NASDEM) and the People's Conscience party (Hanura). "The Democratic Party has already made a decision to be balancing force and not to propose members as ministers. There is no any member of Democratic Party prepared to be a minister," Syarief told a press conference at the Democratic Party headquarters.

The Democratic Party's position fell to the fourth in April's legislative polls from the first rank in the previous legislative elections.

The other coalition party locally known as"Koalisi Merah Putih" led by defeated presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto's Indonesian Great Movement Party (Gerindra) secured the third place in the legislative polls.

The coalition secures more votes that made it become a majority in the parliament.

New President Joko Widodo is preparing to set up his cabinet and selecting ministers.

He is to be sworn in on Oct. 20 to replace President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who has been in presidency for 10 years. Endi