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Kalla will not join Dems convention, says the committee
The Democratic Partyâs convention committee said on Wednesday that former vice president Jusuf Kalla had refused to join the convention
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he Democratic Party's convention committee said on Wednesday that formervice president Jusuf Kalla had refused to join the convention.
'We have yet to hand down the formal invitation to him but it is certain that Mr. JK [Kalla's initials] will not join the convention,' committee secretary Suaidi Marasabessy as quoted by Tribunnews.com told reporters on the sidelines of the convention's preliminary candidate selection process in Jakarta on Wednesday.
According to Suaidi, committee chief Maftuh Basyuni and his deputy Taufiqurrahman Ruki visited Kalla's house on Tuesday to have an informal talk with Kalla regarding the invitation.
'According to Mr. JK, it was unethical for him to join the convention as he had served as the chairman of the Golkar Party. He also said that convention rules require that a member of a given party wanting to participate in another party's proceedings would have to drop membership. We have to respect to his decision,' Suaidi said.
According to the committee, 15 candidates have confirmed they will participate in the preliminary selection examinations for the coming convention. Seven out of the candidates have been interviewed in the preliminary examination.
The seven candidates are Indonesian Ambassador to the United States Dino Patti Djalal, Paramadina University Rector Anies Baswedan, Former Indonesian Military commander Gen. (ret) Endriartono Sutarto, Democratic Party senior lawmaker Hayono Isman, Regional Representatives Council (DPD) Speaker Irman Gusman, Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan and former Army chief of staff Gen. (ret) Pramono Edhie Wibowo. (hrl)
