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President Jokowi taking reins of PDI-P would be legal, say politicians
Politicians say that if President Joko âJokowiâ Widodo were to assume the chairmanship of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) it did not violate the 2011 Political Parties Law
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oliticians say that if President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo were to assume the chairmanship of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) it did not violate the 2011 Political Parties Law.
A politician from the Democratic Party, Khotibul Umam Wiranu, said one of functions of a political party was to ready members to become state leaders.
'So I think selecting Jokowi as the PDI-P chairman is not prohibited. Instead, each political party cadre is always encouraged to become administration leaders in this country,' Khotibul, secretary of the Democratic Party faction at the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), told The Jakarta Post on Monday.
He said that discussion within the PDI-P about President Jokowi replacing Megawati Soekarnoputri as party chairman was nothing new.
It's a normal thing and it's not a problem. [If Jokowi were to become party head] there would be no article in the Political Parties Law againts it,' said Khotibul.
He added that President Jokowi's appeal to Cabinet members to relinquish party positions was merely a moral appeal, not an official requirement.
'[...] I think it's just a moral appeal and its implementation depends on each minister. It's merely an ethics issue and it's different with regulations stipulated in the political parties law, which has become the foundation of political activity in the country,' Khotibul said.
Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, who is also a PDI-P politician, said popularity was the primary driver of a candidate's suitability. President Jokowi, for instance, ranked first in a survey of potential PDI-P chairman candidates. Megawati ranked second.
'The surveys have also shown that fanatic support for popular figures remains a crucial factor in our society. This means that if Jokowi still has the support to become PDI-P chairman, then our people will permit it.' Ganjar said. (ebf)(+++)
