Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono chaired a closed-door meeting with leaders of government coalition parties on Tuesday night to discuss recent economic developments as part of efforts to save the draft revision of the 2013 state budget.

"Today we had a meeting of government coalition parties. In essence, the meeting led by the President assessed recent developments in the global and national economies," National Mandate Party (PAN) Chairman Hatta Rajasa who is also chief economic minister said at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) after the two-hour meeting.

The meeting also expected deliberations on the draft revision of the 2013 state budget could be completed on schedule, he said.

"The coalition is expected to save it," he said.

Asked about the coalition`s commitment to saving the draft revision of the 2013 state budget, he said the coalition had strong commitment to it.

Also present at the meeting which began at 08.00 p.m. local time were Vice President Boediono, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto, Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi, Law and Human Rights Minister Amir Syamsuddin, Golkar Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie, Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali who is also chief of the United Development Party (PPP) and Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar who is also chief of the National Awakening Party (PKB).

No representative from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) showed up at the meeting.

PKS is the only member of President Yudhoyono`s six-party coalition which has decided to oppose the planned fuel price increase.

Earlier, Vice President Boediono said the fuel price hike could no longer be delayed in view of the huge fuel subsidy which reaches up to Rp250 trillion every year.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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