Sleeping with the Enemy

Relationship between president SBY and vice president Jusuf Kalla reached its new low this week after SBY indirectly responded to Kalla's criticism and claims. There are pressures for Kalla to resign. Meanwhile, Golkar and Hanura decided to appoint industry affairs minister Fahmi Idris as the "campaign manager" for Kalla-Wiranto in the presidential race.

"No way that I have nothing (to claim for success)," president SBY responded to Kalla's claims of success in the past four years and four months of partnership.

"No need to make it public that we're faster, better. That's not good, so be careful. All leaders have their own strengths," SBY said.

SBY also said that "I never disturbed others, so if they want to be in a hurry, be it. But I have a plan and timeline," SBY said to respond Kalla's criticism that other president candidate has yet to make decision on VP candidate. "I made the decision to run with Wiranto, faster than anybody, because I believe faster is better. Nobody wants to wait, it's boring," Kalla said.

These are SBY's comments on Kalla's campaign that he could be a better leader (than SBY). It's just difficult to imagine how the president and vice president could run the administration in the next few months smoothly if they're busy to "attack" each other.

Not to mention that industry affairs minister, who is also Golkar party leader, Fahmi Idris has been appointed as chairman of the success team for Kalla-Wiranto pairing in July race. 

It is also difficult to imagine how other Golkar members within the cabinet (Aburizal Bakrie, Andi Matalatta, and Paskah Suzetta) could work in such a "tense" relationship between their boss and the president.

Relationship between SBY and Kalla worsened significantly after Kalla formally accepted "pressures" from Golkar regional leaders to run for presidency in early February. In late February, the relationship improved when SBY and Kalla met for the first time in a cabinet meeting where both agreed to compete fairly in the race. There were two other meetings between the two leaders which considered a confirmation of their breakaway. 

But since late April, the relationship turned to low point after Kalla made series of statements, especially about his contribution within SBY's administration and how he was indirectly rejected by SBY as running mate. The relationship has worsened significantly in the past two weeks, especially after Kalla formally announced his candidacy with Wiranto (SBY's former boss in the military) as VP candidate.

Since then, we never saw them together in public events. It is interesting to see whether Kalla and other Golkar members in the cabinet will resign, and focus on challenging SBY in July election. Else, we would see competition of resources within the administration to win the election. People? Well, their numbers counted only before the election. After that, politicians forget about how many people in this country they shall serve.

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