C

oordinating Minister for the Economy Hatta Rajasa has been chosen to lead the National Mandate Party (PAN) for 2010-2015.

The decision strengthens Hatta's position in the current job and the party's political support for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's government in the next five years.

Hatta was elected chairman at the PAN national congress at the Holiday Hotel in Batam, Riau Islands, on Saturday, only moments after his only rival, Drajad Wibowo, announced his withdrawal from the race.

In a break from previous years, PAN, under Hatta's leadership, will be expected to strengthen its solidarity to support the government and accumulate enough political capital to win a double-digit share of the votes in the 2014 general elections.

PAN, under founder Amien Rais, distanced itself from the government. Amien fared poorly in the 2004 presidential election but maintained a strong presence in the party under the leadership of Soetrisno Bachir.

"Following this healthy competition, I appeal to all PAN members to unite and respond to challenges facing the party," Hatta said.

PAN won 8 percent of the vote, or 46 seats at the House of Representatives in the 2009 legislative election and plays a minor role in the government coalition, but the party gained three ministerial posts in the Cabinet thanks to the political skill of Hatta.

Hatta was Yudhoyono's main lobbyist during his previous position as state secretary and during the formation of the current Cabinet following Yudhoyono's landslide victory in last year's July 9 presidential election.

Many congress participants expressed disappointment with the congress, describing it as chaotic, and denouncing political bullying by party elites that led to Drajad's withdrawal from the race. The congress turned chaotic when it annulled the participation of Jamaluddin from Papua apparently because of his support for Drajad's candidacy.

"The election for chairman has to go on and Drajad should not give in to pressure and intimidation from party elites," a Drajad supporter was quoted as saying by news portal detik.com.

Amien, chairman of the party's board of patrons, said Drajad would be appointed deputy chairman, to maintain the party's unity.

Amien lobbied Drajad on Friday to withdraw from the race. Drajad, an economist and former legislator, had run on a platform of removing the party from the government coalition and launching internal reforms to improve the party's showing in elections in 2014.

University of Indonesia political analyst Maswadi Rauf said a Hatta victory was expected as the party had no other leaders with Hatta's political experience and connections.