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Golkar to remain in opposition under Aburizal

Jakarta Post - December 4, 2014

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Desy Nurhayati, Nusa Dua, Bali – With little resistance from his party opponents Aburizal Bakrie easily won by acclamation the leadership of the Golkar Party for a second term on Wednesday, making him the first party member to have had the opportunity to lead the party for two terms.

His promise to restore the Regional Elections (Pilkada) Law, annulled by then president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono with a government regulation in lieu of a law (Perppu), was among the reasons regional party leaders agreed to Aburizal maintaining his grip on the party. The law is seen as a means for local party bosses to easily win indirect local elections.

The party reiterated its commitment to remain part of the Red-and-White Coalition, in opposition to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and to ensure indirect local elections.

Aburizal has also been declared the head of the coalition's presidium and will soon carry out the party's plan to establish chapters of the coalition at the provincial and local levels.

"The congress officially declared Aburizal Bakrie as the chairman and Akbar Tandjung as the head of the advisory council for the 2014-2019 period," head of the steering committee Nurdin Halid declared.

The Nusa Dua, Bali, congress also announced the dismissal of 15 promiment party members, including Agung Laksono, Priyo Budi Santoso, Agun Gunandjar Sudarsa and Yorrys Raweyai.

Meanwhile, Agung, continues to claim support for his version of the party national congress slated to be held in Jakarta in January 2015.

"We reiterated our position that we will never recognize the Bali congress and any of the decisions it made," he said at Golkar headquarters in West Jakarta on Wednesday.

Agung, a Golkar deputy chairman, is the leader of the party faction that strongly opposed the Bali congress, which it deemed illegal and engineered by Aburizal and his cronies.

Amid doubts over whether regional and local party executives who attended the Bali congress would be able to attend the January congress, the former minister in Yudhoyono's Cabinet was optimistic about future success.

"It [Agung's congress] has the legal authority and will include a very democratic chairmanship election," Agung, who is vying for the party chairmanship, added.

Meanwhile, Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H. Laoly acknowledged that he had received letters from Agung's camp, protesting against Aburizal's reelection. The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician, however, was tightlipped when asked how he would respond to Agung's requests.

Admitting that Aburizal's leadership of Golkar might strengthen the opposition Red-and-White Coalition's hold over the House of Representatives, the minister said that the government would counter the coalition's power by winning the people's support.

"Political opposition is normal, we will face it. We are open to political communication with any factions at the House. I know this is not going to be easy, but the people will support us as long as we make programs that provide real benefits for them," Yasonna said at the State Palace on Wednesday.

[Bagus BT Saragih and Ina Parlina also contributed to this report.]

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/12/04/golkar-remain-opposition-under-aburizal.html.