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Romahurmuziy named as new PPP chairman
The United Development Party (PPP) declared secretary-general Muhammad Romahurmuziy the partyâs new chairman, replacing former religious affairs minister Suryadharma Ali, who had been named a suspect in a graft case, at a muktamar (national congress) in Surabaya, East Java, on Thursday
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T
he United Development Party (PPP) declared secretary-general Muhammad Romahurmuziy the party's new chairman, replacing former religious affairs minister Suryadharma Ali, who had been named a suspect in a graft case, at a muktamar (national congress) in Surabaya, East Java, on Thursday.
PPP deputy chairman Suharso Monoarfa said the party made the decision after it considered the opinions and aspirations of all of its regional boards.
'The elected chairman is granted the authority to [jointly with other party officials] choose members of the PPP's central executive board and the party's advisory council leader and deputy leader,' Suharso said when he read out decisions reached during the congress on Thursday.
Members of the party's regional executive boards from 26 provinces attended the congress.
After reading out the congress decisions, Suharso asked participants to convey whether or not they agreed with the appointment of Romahurmuziy as their new leader.
'Agree!' they shouted.
Speaking after his appointment, Romahurmuziy said he was committed to taking the party to a top-three position in the 2019 general elections. He also pledged to resolve ongoing conflicts that had split the party into two rival factions.
Attempts to resolve the internal rift had been taking place since Suryadharma's decision to offer the PPP's support to then-presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto by joining his Red-and-White Coalition ahead of the July 9 presidential election triggered conflicts between the two factions.
Romahurmuziy's faction blamed Suryadharma for the party's failure to secure leadership positions at both the House of Representatives and the People's Consultative Assembly, saying that he was incapable of leading the party.
The growing internal tensions led the party's council to issue a ruling on Oct. 11, ordering the two rival factions to hold an islah (reconciliation) and to plan the muktamar through a consensus.
Romahurmuziy's faction defended its decision to hold its own congress, claiming that the congress was legitimate and needed to reach an islah although Suryadharma insisted that the Surabaya congress was illegal.
When he was asked about the legitimacy of his appointment, Romahurmuziy said he believed he was a legal chairman as his appointment was made in accordance with the party rules.
He said the first thing on his agenda would be to choose the party's central executive board members.
'We will also build political communications as widely as possible,' said Romahurmuziy. (ebf)(++++)
