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Golkar party picks Jokowi's top loyalist as leader

Bahlil Lahadalia, the newly appointed energy minister and the president's right-hand man, was chosen as party leader at the annual congress of Golkar, the party of the late autocrat President Suharto, who ruled Indonesia for three decades until 1998. 

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Wed, August 21, 2024

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Golkar party picks Jokowi's top loyalist as leader Newly appointed Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia (left) shakes hands with President Joko “Jokowi“ Widodo during their swearing-in ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on August 19, 2024. (AFP/Yasuyoshi Chiba)

G

olkar Party appointed a top loyalist of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo as its new chairman on Wednesday, a move members say could allow the outgoing president to retain political influence long after he leaves office in October. 

Bahlil Lahadalia, the newly appointed energy minister and the president's right-hand man, was chosen as party leader at the annual congress of Golkar, the party of the late autocrat President Suharto, who ruled Indonesia for three decades until 1998. 

The hugely popular Jokowi has served the maximum two terms allowed and his immense political clout helped ensure former rival Prabowo Subianto won February's presidential election with a huge margin. 

Four Golkar sources, several speaking on the sidelines of the congress on the condition of anonymity, told Reuters Bahlil's appointment could help Jokowi to secure his legacy after Prabowo takes power. 

Golkar members have said Jokowi has been quietly angling to shore up his power base through the party before stepping down. Jokowi's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

During his speech to the congress, Bahlil stressed the party must be unified and in an apparent reference to Jokowi, he gave a veiled warning to its members to stay in line. 

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"If we play around with the king of Java, it will be dangerous for us," he said. 

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