Wahid at the mercy of his deputy

Megawatis is flexing her muscles as support for Wahid waivers

By CNN's Atika Shubert

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid is finding himself at the mercy of his deputy, Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri, just 17 months after snatching an election victory from her grasp.

Megawati is flexing her muscles, both in parliament -- where she heads the largest party controlling about one third of the seats -- and behind the closed doors of the presidential palace, where Wahid's cabinet is desperately trying to negotiate a power sharing agreement between the two national leaders.

Chief Security Minister, Bambang Yudhoyono, has been leading the ministerial team negotiating a solution. He told reporters on Tuesday that a power sharing agreement between president and vice president was the most "realistic" alternative and "must be a component of the solution that we are building."

In Indonesia's slow-motion political battle, there is no relationship more important -- or more mysterious -- than that between President Abdurrahman Wahid and Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri. Political allies turned rivals.

Haphazard style

Advisors to the vice president say Megawati -- already smarting from her elections loss -- has become increasingly disillusioned with Wahid's haphazard style of government.

In particular, Wahid's leniency towards separatist movements is unacceptable to Megawati's nationalist upbringing.

Furthermore, they say, Wahid has made several off-the-cuff statements that are openly derisive of the vice president. Combined, these factors have been enough to push Mrs. Megawati into action.

"People have limits to their patience," said Julius Usman, a member of her political party, PDI-P.

Megawati: disillusioned

"I think one of them, especially, is Megawati. She's tired of being lied to. And I think she is making her moves now, really showing herself. Saying, this is me. Don't push me around anymore."

President Wahid has already offered Megawati an olive branch of sorts.

In August of last year, Wahid unveiled his plan to give Megawati the "technical duties" and "day to day" running of the government.

But crucial cabinet appointments and broad policy remained in the hands of the president and the agreement fell to the wayside.

No public statement

Vice President Megawati has made no public statement on whether she wants the presidency.

Instead, her party is speaking for her.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has spearheaded parliament's charge against President Wahid, including two censures.

Wahid has been censured twice by parliament

He is now one step away from a Special Assembly Session, the one forum that can impeach the president. He has until May 30th to reply to parliament's most recent censure.

The attacks from parliament have forced Wahid into taking one of two options -- seal a power sharing deal with Megawati now, or be forced to accept a less favorable settlement later in a Special Assembly Session.

In the last week, Jakarta has been buzzing with political intrigue. Among them, reports that President Abdurrahman Wahid has considered dissolving parliament. Something the Indonesian military has loudly warned against.

But attacks from parliament appear to be subsiding in favor of a power sharing agreement. Until an agreement is reached, however, Indonesia's government hangs in suspension waiting for someone to take the lead.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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