Bamsoet Responds His Name Is On The Stock Exchange For Candidates For Golkar Chairman To Replace Airlangga

Golkar Deputy Bambang Soesatyo/PHOTO: Diah Ayu-VOI

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairperson of the Golkar Party, Bambang Soesatyo (Bansoet), responded to his name as one of the candidates for the General Chairperson of Golkar to replace Airlangga Hartarto who resigned.

Bamsoet admitted that the process of determining the replacement for Airlangga was still ongoing internally in the party. There has been no decision on who the party elite will take on the position.

"This is a process, yes," said Bamsoet when met at NasDem Tower, Central Jakarta, Monday, August 12.

On the one hand, the Chairperson of the MPR revealed the reason he visited the NasDem Party DPP office. Bamsoet said that he only had lunch with the NasDem Ketum Surya Paloh. He did not discuss political issues, including the regional elections.

"There is no discussion (pilkada), just talking about nostalgia, I'm part of Gondangdia. So, there's no other discussion except for the light ones," said Bamsoet.

Airlangga Hartarto announced his resignation as General Chair of the Golkar Party DPP as of Saturday night, August 10. Airlangga explained two reasons for resigning, namely wanting to maintain the integrity of the Golkar Party and keep the atmosphere stable and conducive during the transition period of the Indonesian President Joko Widodo's administration to Prabowo Subianto's government as the winner of the 2024 presidential election.

Chairman of the Expert Council of the Golkar Party DPP Agung Laksono said several names who deserved to run for chairman of the party replacing Airlangga Hartarto.

"Yes, there is Agus Gumiwang, there is Bambang Soesatyo, which means (both) are Golkar Party administrators, in the DPP now yes. Then, there are also other administrators, there is Mr. Bobby, there is Mr. Firman Soebagyo, many can be chosen from the management," said Agung Laksono when contacted in Jakarta, Sunday, August 11.

Agus Gumiwang, Bambang Soesatyo, and Firman Soebagyo currently serve as Deputy Chairperson of the Golkar Party DPP, while Bobby, who is said to be Agung, may refer to Golkar Party DPP chairman Bobby Adhityo Rizaldi.

Despite his proposal, he emphasized that it all depends on the choices agreed upon when the Golkar Party National Conference (Munas) after Airlangga resigned.

He explained that the plenary meeting on Tuesday, August 13 was to determine the schedule for the extraordinary national deliberation (munaslub) and the acting chairman (plt.).

"It's up to you later in the upcoming National Conference. However, now what I've heard since this morning, what I hear is that most (strong candidates, ed.) are Mr. Agus Gumiwang, who is expected to bring the party to the next congress," said Agung.

However, for the name Bahlil Lahadalia, Agung Laksono admitted that he had not heard of it. "I don't know yet. We'll see in the future," he continued.