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Tainted Setya seeks to boost party’s image, focus on reconciliation

Friends again?: Golkar chairman-elect Setya Novanto (right) has rival Ade Komarudin congratulate him on winning the election during the party congress in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Tuesday

Margareth S. Aritonang and Ina Parlina (The Jakarta Post)
Bali/Seoul/Jakarta
Wed, May 18, 2016

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Tainted Setya seeks to boost party’s image, focus on reconciliation

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span class="inline inline-center">Friends again?: Golkar chairman-elect Setya Novanto (right) has rival Ade Komarudin congratulate him on winning the election during the party congress in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Tuesday. Setya received 277 votes to Ade’s 173.(JP/Zul Trio Anggono)

The Golkar Party’s national congress ended Tuesday with new chairman Setya Novanto vowing to focus on internal reconciliation to win regional elections next year and improve the party’s declining image.

Boosting the party’s image looks to be a tough task for Setya, considering the low level of his own image, particularly after the Freeport Indonesia scandal, in which he allegedly used the name of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in a bid to acquire shares in the gold and copper mining company.

The scandal cost Setya his position as House of Representatives speaker after a public outcry, with many calling for his resignation.

To ridicule Setya while he was still a House speaker, Jokowi joked papa minta saham (papa is asking for shares), in reference to the alleged extortion attempt.

But Setya remains upbeat he can polish his image and restore Golkar’s former glory.

“I know it is a humongous task to improve my image. But what other options do I have?” he said, refusing to elaborate.

“My other priority is to start reconciliation efforts at the national and regional level. I will visit all provincial branches to consolidate power in order to win regional elections next year,” he said.

Upon learning about Setya’s ascent to the Golkar chairmanship, Jokowi — on a state visit to Seoul — simply said he respected the outcome of the congress.

Many believe Setya’s leadership may benefit Jokowi’s administration, given Setya’s problematic past. In fact, the new Golkar chairman himself has pledged full support for the government.

“The hope is that the Jokowi-Kalla administration will be more stable [...] although it is already very stable,” Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung said, adding that the new political development would also “ease communication and coordination” with the House of Representatives.

With Golkar openly throwing its support behind Jokowi, the next question is whether the party will get ministerial posts in the upcoming Cabinet reshuffle.

President Jokowi himself stopped short of commenting on whether he would give Golkar a position in his Cabinet, saying the matter had not been discussed so far.

Political observer Syamsuddin Haris from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) said it would be easier for Jokowi to control someone with a past scandal than someone of integrity.

“Not to mention that the party has declared to support the government,” he said. “It seems that Golkar fits in well with the scenario of Jokowi.”

Meanwhile, the NasDem Party has welcomed Golkar to join its pro-government coalition.

“Because that means the parties [in the coalition] can join hands to support and smoothen the government’s development agenda,” said NasDem lawmaker Johnny G. Platte.

While declining to comment on whether Golkar would get any positions in the new Cabinet, PDI-P lawmaker Hendrawan Supratikno said “there is no such thing as a ‘free lunch’ in this life.”

Factions associated with the opposition’s Red-and-White Coalition led by the Gerindra Party said they respected Setya’s decision to support the government and leave their coalition.

“It’s the usual political dynamic, but we will maintain our relationship with Golkar,” said Gerindra lawmaker and deputy House speaker Fadli Zon.

“Instead, we may gain more support from the people, and that will open the door for us to win the 2019 presidential election,” he added.

With Golkar and other defecting members of the opposition camp — the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the National Development Party (PPP) — Jokowi’s coalition has secured 69 percent of seats in the House.

Aside from Setya’s election, the party congress also named his predecessor Aburizal Bakrie as Golkar’s board of patron chairman, a position last held by former president and Golkar’s founder, Soeharto.

Aburizal has yet to detail the authority of his new position, but insisted he would not overshadow Setya’s leadership.

Setya has also retained Aburizal’s minion Idrus Marham as the party’s secretary general and appointed his trusted aide Nurdin Halid, a former convict for graft and smuggling, as executive chairman.

Tassia Sipahutar and Nurul Fitri Ramadhani contributed to the story

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