D

espite growing opposition to his reelection, Golkar Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie is planning to stage a national congress in Bali on Sunday, putting one of the country'€™s oldest political parties at risk of breaking apart.

Many senior politicians in the party have demanded that Aburizal step down and not seek reelection following Golkar'€™s failure in this year'€™s legislative election.

Earlier this month, a Golkar national leaders'€™ meeting (Rapimnas) dominated by Aburizal'€™s supporters advanced the date of the congress from the initial date in January, a decision that was met with condemnation from his rivals.

Despite the rift, senior Golkar politician Firman Soebagyo, who is an organizer for the congress, said the meeting would proceed as scheduled.

'€œEverything is ready for the congress tomorrow [Sunday]. All the leaders of local and regional party branches have confirmed attendance,'€ Firman told The Jakarta Post.

Firman said that security would not be a concern as the Bali Police were ready for the meeting. '€œThe Bali Police have reassured us that there will be no security problems that we will need to worry about before or during the congress'€.

Many of Aburizal'€™s rivals, including deputy party chairman Agung Laksono, lawmaker Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita and executive Yorrys Raweyai, have stepped up attacks against Aburizal, accusing him of abusing power to threaten local party leaders.

The conflict escalated when a bloody clash took place at the party'€™s headquarters in West Jakarta on Tuesday, with Yorrys, a former Golkar Youth Generation (AMPG) chairman, reportedly vowing to break up the Bali congress if Aburizal insisted on holding it.

In the lead-up to the congress, Agung, a former coordinating people'€™s welfare minister, has become Aburizal'€™s strongest contender. His election could change the country'€™s political landscape.

Aburizal, who directed Golkar to support the unsuccessful presidential bid of Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto, has said he would keep Golkar in the Red-and-White Coalition; while Agung, if elected, is expected to bring the party into President Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo'€™s ruling coalition.

Agung, who has set up the '€œPresidium of Golkar Party'€™s Saviors'€, also filed a request with the Law and Human Rights Ministry to register the new executive board of the party, which excludes Aburizal and all of his men.

Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H. Laoly said on Thursday that officals were weighing options.

Late on Thursday, Golkar advisory council chairman Akbar Tandjung suggested that the congress be postponed until the conflicting camps started reconciling their differences.

Agung'€™s camp has blasted the congress, deeming it unconstitutional.

A spokesperson for Agung Lamhot Sinaga said the only legitimate national congress would be one scheduled for next year.

'€œMany Golkar regional executives who are now in Bali actually came to demand that the congress be pushed back until next year,'€ he said.

Agung, according to Lamhot, is also ready to talk about reconciliation only if Aburizal called off the Bali congress.

'€œWe have heard that Aburizal is considering pushing back the congress until next year. But he needs to show his commitment by cancelling the congress,'€ he said.

Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno earlier said that the National Police should not give security clearance for the congress to take place in Bali, the country'€™s most popular tourist destination.

However, in a visit to the congress venue on Saturday, Bali Police chief Insp. Gen. AJ Benny Mokalu, said the event would not create security problems.

'€œThis is just a normal, routine activity. [We] will use our regular resources. There will be no massive personnel deployment,'€ he said.