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View all search resultsAkbar Tandjung says rift weakens Golkar
A rift within the Golkar Party between those supporting presidential candidate Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and running mate Jusuf Kalla, former Golkar chairman, and those toeing the party line and backing Prabowo Subianto is hurting the party, a Golkar senior member has said
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A
rift within the Golkar Party between those supporting presidential candidate Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and running mate Jusuf Kalla, former Golkar chairman, and those toeing the party line and backing Prabowo Subianto is hurting the party, a Golkar senior member has said.
Golkar advisory council head Akbar Tandjung said the party's fractured state was similar to what had happened in the 2004 presidential election when the party's support was split into two factions, namely supporters of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono-Jusuf Kalla and Wiranto-Salahudin Wahid.
'Such a condition is obviously not beneficial for the Golkar Party. Our experience in the 2004 election was really uncomfortable for us,' said Akbar in Jakarta on Wednesday as quoted by kompas.com.
Akbar said all Golkar members should follow decisions made by the party. He admitted, however, that Golkar's weak coalition maneuvering resulting in the last minute decision to back Prabowo was the fault of Golkar chairman Aburizal Bakrie, who had refused to heed Akbar's suggestion that the party make coalition and candidate decisions democratically and with transparency.
'I would be obedient to any decision made by the party whether I like it or not,' said Akbar.
He denied rumors that the party's rift was a strategic play to enable Golkar to hedge its bets and secure influence in either a Jokowi or Prabowo administration.
'It's not a strategy because this condition is exceptionally deleterious to the party,' Akbar said.
A number of Golkar members are breaking ranks to back Jokowi-Kalla, saying they are very disappointed with the party's decision to abandon Golkar member Jusuf Kalla.
Among Golkar members supporting Jokowi-Kalla are lawmaker Poempida Hidayatulloh; the party's head of research and development agency Indra J.Piliang; and Golkar central executive board member, Agus Gumiwang. Poempida is acting as Kalla's spokesperson. (dhi/ebf)
