T

he Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN) has ruled in favor of senior United Development Party (PPP) politician Djan Faridz, who challenged a ministerial decree that recognized Muhammad Romahurmuziy’s leadership of the PPP.

The ruling stipulates that the decree, which was issued by the Law and Human Rights Ministry, is invalid and thus must be annulled.

“This is a gift from God for us,” the secretary-general of Djan’s PPP faction, Dimyati Natakusumah, said on Tuesday. He added that he hoped the government could soon follow up the verdict by recognizing Djan’s faction as the legitimate executives of the Islamic-based party.

The PPP has been rocked by internal conflict for more than a year.

Serving as secretary-general under the chairmanship of Suryadharma Ali, Romahurmuziy leads a faction within the party that declared its support for the government after the 2014 presidential election.

A congress held by a rival faction within the party, regarded as a splinter group by Romahurmuziy, elected businessman Djan as chairman.

Influenced by the government, the PPP then held a so-called reconciliation congress that was expected to end the prolonged infighting. The congress named Romahurmuziy chairman. Djan’s faction defied the congress and insisted that Romahurmuziy’s leadership was illegal.

PPP secretary-general under Romahurmuziy, Arsul Sani, said his faction would file an appeal with the State Administrative High Court (PTTUN).