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Golkar leadership race begins early
The Golkar Party is likely to decide on its new leader at a national congress expected to be held before President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo announces his new Cabinet in October.
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President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Golkar Party leader Airlangga Hartarto enjoy tea time after a jog at Bogor Palace in West Java on Saturday. (Courtesy of/Presidential Palace)
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he Golkar Party, currently the second-largest political party at the House of Representatives, is likely to decide on its new leader at a national congress expected to be held before President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo announces his new Cabinet in October.
The party initially planned to hold a national congress in December, but pressure has been mounting within the party to move the congress forward.
Some politicians have openly challenged chairman Airlangga Hartarto’s leadership and declared themselves members of a group campaigning for another Golkar figure to step up to the plate, namely House Speaker Bambang Soesatyo.
The group claimed on Sunday it had secured the backing of 400 Golkar members from provincial, regency and city-level branches for its candidate to replace Airlangga, who also serves as the industry minister in Jokowi’s administration.
Bambang has yet to announce his intention to run as the next party chairman.
Meanwhile, Airlangga has announced his intention to run again as the party’s leader for the next period, citing in Makassar on Sunday —just a few hours before Bambang’s campaign team released its statement--that he had secured 400 pledges of support.
Airlangga promised to ensure Golkar’s victory in the 2024 elections.
