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Gerindra fires Semarang chair for alleged assault of PDI-P member
Gerindra's ethics council has confirmed that Joko Santoso had been dismissed as the Semarang branch chairman, but retained his party membership.
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Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto speaks on May 18, 2023 during a gathering of the Indonesian Mosque Youth Communication Forum at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta. (Antara/Akbar Nugroho Gumay)
T
he Gerindra Party’s central executive board has dismissed the chairman of the party’s local branch in Semarang, Central Java, over allegations of assaulting a member of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the key rival in next year’s general election.
Gerindra ethics council chair Habiburrokhman issued a statement on [DAY] confirming that the Semarang branch chair, Joko Santoso, had been dismissed for violating the party’s code on good conduct.
"He has been handed down the harshest sanction possible, being dismissed from his position as chairman of a [regional branch]," Habiburrokhman said, but added that Joko retained his membership at Gerindra, cofounded and chaired by Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto.
An internal probe conducted by the party's ethics council found that Joko had verbally abused PDI-P member Suparjianto during a visit to his home in Semarang.
A separate internal probe conducted by the PDI-P found that Joko also had physically assaulted Suparjianto, who reported the incident to his higher-ups.
PDI-P secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto was briefed about the incident and issued a statement calling for members to exercise restraint and to trust the police in their investigation into the incident.
"So far, there has been no skirmishes because PDI-P members have submitted to the order from their compassionate leaders, not leaders who are prone to anger," Hasto said.
