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View all search resultsGolkar to honor Aburizal with new leading position for willingness to step down
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United: Golkar Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie (right), accompanied with his deputy, Agung Laksono, talk in an internal meeting at the party’s central executive board headquarters in Jakarta on April 7. (Antara/-)
T
he Golkar Party is set to elect Aburizal Bakrie as head of the party's newly established advisory board in exchange for his willingness to give up the party's chairmanship.
As leader of the party's advisory board, Aburizal will have the authority to determine two significant strategic decisions in appointing Golkar's presidential and vice presidential candidates and in appointing Golkar's representatives to sit at important state institutions.
Secretary of the steering committee in charge of the party's national congress, Agun Gunanjar, said that the congress, which is slated to take place from May 13 until 17, is expected to unanimously appoint Aburizal as chairman of the advisory board.
"It is to award and honor him for all of his work [for Golkar]," Agun said on the sidelines of the congress in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Saturday.
Agun explained that in addition to the new advisory board position, the congress will also set up two other new posts to house respected senior politicians, namely a board of experts and an honorary board.
The board of experts will be led by Agung Laksono while the honorary board will be headed by former president BJ Habibie.
Meanwhile, head of the congress' organizational division, Freddy Latumahina, who is responsible for preparing the selection mechanism, said that Aburizal's appointment will take place after the congress votes for a new chairman.
"There is no opposition to the plan so far," Freddy said.
Golkar is expected to hold the election for its chairmanship on Monday.
There are 8 candidates to contest the leadership race, namely Ade Komarudin, Setya Novanto, Aziz Syamsuddin, Airlangga Hartarto, Mahyudin, Indra Bambang Utoyo and Syahrul Yasin Limpo.
The opening ceremony will take place on Saturday evening, which will see President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo address the congress. (dmr)
