Yudhoyono Free to Choose Vice President

VIVAnews - Democratic Party has decided that its presidential candidate Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is free to choose vice presidential candidate in the next presidential elections.

"We let Mr. Yudhoyono choose because it is him that will cooperate with [the vice president]," said Head of National Campaign Team for Democratic Party, Yahya Secawirya, to VIVAnews.

The party's role in determining vice presidential candidate, he said, is limited to giving suggestions. The condition is that the candidate should possess similar vision on leadership. In addition, said Yahya, the candidate should have commitments to cooperate with Yudhoyono.

Yahya said that up until today, the Democratic Party has not yet chosen any candidate. The next vice presidential candidate for Yudhoyono, he said, will be determined after the legislative elections is held in April 2009.

Translated by: Bonardo Maulana Wahono