DEMOCRATS` PARTY OFFICIALLY NOMINATE YUDHOYONO AS ITS PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE

Jakarta, Oct 19 (ANTARA) - The Democrats' Party has officially declared current President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as its presidential candidate in the presidential elections next year.

In its political statement read out by party's deputy secretary general, Angelina Sondakh, at the peak of the commemoration of the party's 7th anniversary here on Sunday it stated that Yudhoyono was still the best figure so far.
"Based upon that evaluation the party considers it not too much if it is determined to when the time comes appoint SBY (Yudhoyono) as the candidate for the 2009 presidential elections," Sondakh said.
She said the Democrats' Party respected the right of every party and individual to prepare for the elections.
However, the party hoped all sides would apply good means and not methods such as sabotages, curses, slanders or character assasination in their efforts to achieve their goal, she said.
To the General Elections Commission (KPU), the party meanwhile appealed to work effectively in order not to reduce public trust and create controversies and to make priorities in carrying out its duties.
The Democrats' Party which was established on September 9, 2001 expressed its support to the policies that had been made by the government in various sectors such as economy, food supply, education, law enforcement and democratization.
The party's anniversary commemoration was also attended by President Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla.
The event was also attended by House Speaker Agung Laksono, former Golkar Party's chief Akbar Tanjung and a number of cabinet ministers.