Golkar Chair Banks Possibility Of Munaslub Evaluation Of Airlangga's Presidential Candidate Encourages The Expert Council

JAKARTA - Golkar Party DPP chairman Dave Akbarshah Fikarno Laksono dismissed the possibility of the Golkar Party Expert Council holding an extraordinary national meeting (munaslub) in order to evaluate Airlangga Hartarto as chairman of the Golkar Party as well as a presidential candidate.

"There is no agenda or opportunity to do the munaslub," Dave said in a statement quoted by ANTARA, Monday, July 10.

Dave also emphasized the loyalty and solidity of all elements of the Golkar Party to Airlangga Hartarto.

"All elements of Golkar remain solidly loyal to the chairman of Golkar," said Member of Commission I of the DPR.

Previously, Sunday (9/7), Deputy Chairperson of the Golkar Party Ahmad Doli Kurnia admitted that he was not aware of an internal meeting at the residence of the Chairman of the Supreme Expert Council, Laksono, Sunday night, in order to provide a number of recommendations ahead of the 2024 General Election.

"They (the Expert Council) have their own mechanism. I didn't know there was a meeting. They were never told if they were in a meeting," said Doli when contacted.

According to him, the Golkar Party Expert Council only has the authority to provide recommendations.

"Well, those who have the right to evaluate it, yes, forums at the same level. The council or expert council does not have the authority to evaluate the policy," continued Doli.

Meanwhile, Member of the Golkar Party Expert Council Ridwan Hisjam said an internal meeting was held at Agung Laksono's residence, Sunday night, regarding a number of recommendations for the 2024 General Election.

Ridwan said that one of the materials discussed in the internal meeting of the Golkar Party Expert Council was related to the decision of the 2019 Golkar Party National Conference (Munas) which decided Airlangga Hartarto as the prospective presidential candidate for the party bearing the banyan symbol.

"So the club is in order to change the decision that Airlangga is not a presidential candidate, it could be another candidate. What is the others, I don't mention names. Well, that can be done too," said Ridwan.

He also stated that it was possible for the National Conference to remove Airlangga Hartarto as the General Chair of the Golkar Party.

"Because of the munaslub, the change of chairman can lead to it, depending on the owner of the vote," he said.

In February 2019, the Golkar Party's National Conference explicitly decided Airlangga Hartarto as the sole presidential candidate for the Golkar Party.