he Hanura Party’s extraordinary national congress officially appointed businessman-turned-politician Oesman Sapta Odang early on Thursday as its new chairman after his sole nomination went uncontested by congress participants.
Oesman, currently a People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) deputy speaker, replaces former chairman Wiranto, who now serves as the party’s patron board chief.
Before the congress’ kick-off on Wednesday evening, Hanura senior officials had hinted that the party would endorse Oesman to lead the party, currently part of a ruling coalition led by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).
(Read also: Hanura to elect new chairman to replace Wiranto)
Oesman said he would still keep his MPR speakership post after the appointment.
“Hanura used to have no representation for an MPR deputy speaker post. Now, they have one starting from today,” Oesman said in his inauguration speech early on Thursday.
In the 2009 legislative elections, Hanura secured 16 of the 560 House of Representatives seats, making it the smallest party faction among the House’s 10 factions.
The party held a leadership election only a few months after Wiranto, a former Army general, was appointed as Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister. (hwa)
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