Dems senior wants chairman with strong political proficiency

A senior politician from the Democratic Party says that the new chairman must have a great political proficiency to build better communication with other parties on crucial matters.

“It is shameful to see that we, the general elections winner, always lose most of the political battles at the legislative body,” Hayono Isman, who is also a member of the Democratic Party patron board, told reporters at the House of Representatives in Senayan, South Jakarta, on Thursday.

The latest political defeat of the Democratic Party took place in early March, during which the party lost the vote on the Bank Century bailout case at the House.

The House finally recommended that the bailout, which suspiciously ten folded to Rp 6.76 trillion (US$716 million), was flawed and therefore, the policy makers had to be legally processed.

During the vote, three coalition partners of the Democratic Party also turned their back against the party.

Hayono said that the loss had to be used as a learning experience for Anas Urbaningrum and Marzuki Alie, two House lawmakers who could have prevented such a defeat should they have better political strategies.

“So, the next chairman must be able to present his vision and strategies clearly on how to strengthen the party executive board communication and coordination with the faction at the House and other parties,” he said.