T

he General Elections Commission (KPU) says it recognizes the Golkar Party faction led by Agung Laksono. The faction has recently been validated by the government.

KPU chairman Husni Kamil Manik said that according to the Political Party Law, legitimate leadership should be validated by the Law and Human Rights Ministry. He said Agung'€™s faction has fulfilled this requirement.

Husni, however, refused to comment on whether the commission would only accept electoral candidates from Agung or would take those recommended by its rival faction led by Aburizal Bakrie.

'€œThe elections haven'€™t started. It is not proper for the KPU to act on anything that does not relate to the polls,'€ he said as quoted by kompas.com.

KPU commissioner Hadar Nafis Gumay said all parties involved in internal conflicts were expected to resolve their leadership disputes by June this year.

The elections will take place simultaneously in regions in December.

Internal conflicts within Golkar and the United Development Party (PPP) have yet to be resolved, despite the ministry issuing decrees validating the leadership of the two parties'€™ pro-government factions.

Former Golkar chairman Aburizal is still contesting the ministerial decree recognizing Agung at the Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN), while the ministry is appealing to the Supreme Court to defend another decree favoring the PPP faction led by Muhammad Romahurmuziy.

The PTUN rejected the ministry'€™s decree on the PPP and granted the party chairmanship to Djan Faridz, a successor appointed by former chairman Suryadharma Ali.