Airlangga: If Interest Becomes Ketum Golkar Wait For National Conference 2024

Chairman of the Golkar Party Airlangga Hartarto in the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday (13/7/2023). ANTARA/Mentari Dwi Gayati.

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Golkar Party Airlangga Hartarto said that if there are parties who want to run for leadership of the party bearing the banyan symbol, they must wait for the National Conference (Munas) in 2024.

"Munas 2024, please be interested in becoming the General Chair of Golkar for 2024," said Airlangga at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, July 13.

Airlangga responded to a statement by a member of the Golkar Expert Council, Ridwan Hisjam, who encouraged the holding of the Extraordinary National Conference (Munaslub). Ridwan also said that Chairman of the Advisory Council of the Golkar Party Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan and Deputy Chairperson of the Golkar Party Bambang Soesatyo (Bamsoet) deserved to be the chairman of Golkar replacing Airlangga.

Airlangga emphasized that there were no plans from within his party to hold an Extraordinary National Conference (Munaslub) to replace him as the Head of Golkar and as a candidate for president from the Golkar Party.

"Nothing, there will be no (Munaslub)," said Airlangga.

Airlangga said Golkar was in talks with other parties to declare a presidential candidate in the 2024 General Election. He asked each party not to urge Golkar to rush to determine the direction and political stance in the 2024 General Election.

"Yes, just urge the others, we are in talks and talks can't be urgent. Party talks must be official," said Airlangga.

The Golkar Party is currently still in the United Indonesia Coalition (KIB) with the National Mandate Party (PAN), and the United Development Party (PPP). Since its establishment in mid-2022, KIB has not determined its political direction in the 2024 General Election.

Bahkan, salah satu anggota KIB, yakni PPP memutuskan mendukung Ganjar Pranowo, bakal calon presiden yang diusung PDI Perjuangan (PDI-P).

Asked separately, PAN Chairman Zulkifli Hasan said KIB was still compact.

"KIB is still compact," said Zulhas, his nickname.

Meanwhile, the three mass organizations founding the Golkar Party, namely Kosgoro 1957, the Gotong Royong Family Consultative Organization (MKGR) and the Central Indonesian Self-Employment Organization (SOKSI) asked Airlangga Hartarto to resign from the position of General Chairperson of the Golkar DPP.

According to the Deputy Chairperson of the Central Executive Board of the Self-Employment Organization (Soksi) Lawrence TP Siburian, the political direction of the Golkar Party is currently unclear. In fact, the time for the registration of prospective presidential candidates (candidates) and vice presidential candidates (cawapres) has three months left, namely in October 2023.

"Pak Airlangga is okay with the ministry. He leads (as) the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, but the Golkar Party is handed over to those who are better able to maintain and maintain at least 14 percent of the vote increases," said Lawrence TP Siburian in Jakarta, Wednesday (12/7).