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View all search resultsFor the government, Agus is still the legitimate Democratic Party chairman
The appointment suggests that party members have long been unhappy with the leadership of Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, who had inherited the position from his father, party founder and former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
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Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko (right) delivers a speech during an extraordinary congress held by several Democratic Party members at a hotel in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra on March 5. Moeldoko was elected party leader by senior Democratic Party members opposed to the leadership of Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono. (Antara/Endi Ahmad)
T
he government said it does not recognize the appointment of Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko as Democratic Party chairman by a group of senior members at an extraordinary congress in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra, on Friday.
Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD said on Saturday that the government would observe on the legitimacy of the extraordinary congress’ result if the splinter group files formal documents regarding a change in official party leadership currently led by Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, the son of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
“Only then can the government say whether this [new chairmanship] is legitimate and if [the congress] was held in accordance with the party’s constitution […], among other issues," Mahfud said. “The legitimate party structure [as acknowledged by] the government is still Agus, the son of Yudhoyono.”
"The event [in Deli Serdang] is considered to be a gathering of party members and cannot be nullified because the law protects the right to assembly.”
Moeldoko, who served as the Indonesian Military (TNI) commander during the latter days of Yudhoyono’s presidency, is the deputy chief patron of the Hanura Party and was never officially associated with the Democratic Party until his surprise appointment. The pro-Yudhoyono Democrats believe that Moeldoko acted on his own.
Read also: Moeldoko splits Democratic Party, poses threat to SBY's ascendancy
Should the government recognize the result of the Deli Serdang congress, the Democratic Party would automatically become part of the ruling coalition, as Moeldoko still serves as the presidential chief of staff. The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) would be the only remaining opposition party, as the National Mandate Party (PAN) has publicly declared that it was neither against nor for the government.
