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Golkar youth wing calls for Habibie to step in
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Former president BJ Habibie (right)) shakes hands with embattled Golkar chairman Golkar Setya Novanto during a meeting in late July. (Antara/Hafidz Mubarak A)
T
he leadership of Golkar Party's youth wing held a meeting with former president BJ Habibie on Monday, calling for the veteran politician to intervene in the party's leadership stand-off.
Speaking after the meeting, chairman of the Golkar Party Youth Movement Group (GMPG) Ahmad Doli Kurnia said Habibie, the country's third president, should support efforts to replace current party chairman Setya Novanto, who has been named a graft suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
"Pak Habibie expressed support for change and renewal within the party, especially now that we have a leadership that is not conducive to change in the country," Doli said as quoted by tempo.co.
Twelve senior members of the GMPG met with Habibie, following discussion with other senior figures in the party, including former party chairman Akbar Tandjung and former president Soeharto's daughter Siti Hedijati "Titiek" Soeharto.
Doli also claimed that during the meeting, Habibie wanted the GMPG to prepare itself for the eventuality of a leadership role within Golkar.
The KPK named Setya a suspect in the e-ID graft case last Tuesday, accusing him of playing a key role in the mega-case that allegedly caused Rp 2.3 trillion (US$172.81 million) in state losses.
Several factions at the House have urged Setya to resign so that he can focus on dealing with the case without disrupting the House’s agenda. He has refused to resign so far as he maintains he is innocent.
