Airlangga, who was reelected chairman of the second-largest political party in its national congress in December, claimed that he went for inclusivity in appointing the executive members.

“The party structure is inclusive. It has accommodated all elements, such as women, millennials and others,” he said recently.

In Golkar’s new structure for the 2019-2024 period, 113 people, including Airlangga as the chairman, are tapped to hold executive positions. This figure is lower than his previous term, which saw 251 people sitting on the executive board.

However, unlike in the previous period, there are 11 deputy chairpersons, including People’s Consultative Assembly Speaker, and Airlangga’s main challenger in the December chairmanship contest, Bambang Soesatyo on the board.

Airlangga has also appointed Bambang loyalists to the party structure, as he had promised following the latter’s withdrawal from the race.

The 10 other deputy chair positions are held by Kahar Muzakkir, Ahmad Doli Kurnia Tandjung, Azis Syamsuddin, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, Hetifah Sjaifudian, Rizal Mallarangeng, Melchias Markus Mekeng, Roem Kono, Nurul Arifin and Nurdin Halid.

In another turn of events, the coordinating economic affairs minister also appointed his colleague in President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s Cabinet and fellow Golkar politician Luhut Pandjaitan as Golkar’s chief adviser.

Luhut, a key figure at the State Palace who currently serves as coordinating maritime affairs and investments minister, played a crucial role in paving the way for Airlangga to clinch Golkar’s leadership for the second time.

The 72-year-old veteran politician helped set up a meeting in his office in which he gathered Airlangga and Bambang, as well as other Golkar senior politicians, in their bid to convince Bambang to withdraw from the leadership contest.

"Pak Luhut is a party member with wisdom and extensive networks," Airlangga said explaining his appointment of Luhut, who in the 2014 presidential election went against the party, which had thrown its weight behind Prabowo Subianto, by supporting Jokowi’s presidential bid instead.

Besides Luhut, Airlangga appointed Aburizal Bakrie as supervisory board chairman, Akbar Tandjung as honorary chairman, Agung Laksono as expert board chairman and Muhammad Hatta as ethics board chairman.

Another senior party member who also played a role in Airlangga's reelection, Jokowi's former vice president Jusuf Kalla, has not been included in the new structure.

Airlangga said he had discussed the matter with Kalla who would still give input to the party at any time. “There are several figures on the board who are close to him. He [Kalla] chose them actually,” he said.

Yet, Bambang seemed unhappy with the new lineup, saying that he had yet to meet Airlangga to discuss the matter. Bambang hoped that Airlangga would involve more of his loyalists in the party structure.

"I hope the lineup will be more accommodative and reconciliatory," Bambang said.

Bambang's loyalists on Friday, also called on Airlangga to accommodate more of them, saying there were only four of them in the structure, namely Robert Kardinal, Mukhamad Misbakhun, Nusron Wahid and Elvis Junaidi.

They said there were also some appointed members with family connections, such as father-son, brothers and sisters and in-laws.

Airlangga has appointed his two children, Ravindra Airlangga and Adanti Kurnia to the structure. Ravindra has been appointed as one of the executive board chairs and Adanti has been appointed as the party’s deputy treasurer. In the previous period, both of them chaired the party’s youth wing organization (AMPG).

"This situation has the potential to undermine the Golkar Party as a modern and democratic party, a party that has lost its function and role because of the ghosts of political nepotism and dynastic politics." Golkar politician and Bambang supporter, Viktus Murin said.

"We regret this. Airlangga and his political regime have engaged in political dishonesty and or political hypocrisy, by including only four people from nearly 100 of Bambang's supporters in the leadership race," he added.

One of Airlangga’s assistants in forming the party structure Melki Laka Lena rejected the concerns saying that the list had been agreed through the party meeting on Jan. 14.

He said the specific divisions or fields would be determined further by the party according to its needs. The current lineup, Melki said, would be the list to be registered with the Law and Human Rights Ministry.

Observers have said that Golkar is a powerful political force that could play a decisive role in the legislative process. With many crucial legislative proposals to back up his development plans, Jokowi cannot afford to lose Golkar’s support.

Jokowi cannot rely solely on his party the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle in seeking House support for his programs, given that the President and his party have not always been on the same page on several key political issues, Indonesia Political Review executive director Ujang Komarudin said.

He said it was reasonable for Airlangga to indulge in “accommodative politics”, a style similar to Jokowi when the latter embraced all, including his political opponents, after the heated contest of the 2019 presidential election.

"The move is designed to make Golkar look calm and with no internal rifts,” Ujang said.

However, he warned Airlangga to be careful with Bambang's loyalists because their disappointment could lead to another conflict.

"If Airlangga cannot manage it properly, then there may be conflict in the future," he said.

Popular

Kadin urges stability after Constitutional Court ruling

Jokowi says transition to new government to begi

BCA loan disbursement surges 17.1 percent yoy in first quarter