Kalla supports progress-oriented candidates

Golkar Party leader Jusuf Kalla fell short of showing his preference for his successor Saturday, although he spent time to meet and greet one of the aspiring chairmen Surya Paloh during his visit here.

Kalla said after the meeting he would support a candidate who was committed to improving the party’s performance in the next five years.

He said he and Paloh did not talk about anything specific about the latter’s candidacy.

“However, Pak Surya did tell me about his visit to Papua and Makassar and the enthusiasm of the regional branches that supported his candidacy,” Kalla said.

Kalla appreciated the differences of opinion between provincial chapters and regional branches concerning the candidates they would vote for in the election of new Golkar leader next month.

“There is no problem with that. That is what we call democracy,” he said
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Kalla is scheduled to meet with another candidate, Hutomo “Tommy” Mandala Putra, the youngest son of former president Soeharto, in Makassar. However, the schedule is yet to be determined.