Golkar ‘still single’ due to Aburizal

JAKARTA. For the umpteenth time, Golkar Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie’s presidential bid has drawn criticism from several senior officials of mass organizations affiliated with the party, who say his presidential candidacy is the reason why Golkar has yet to find a coalition partner.

“On why Golkar is still single, we understand that when we put him forward as the party’s presidential candidate for 2014, there were a lot of problems, such as his stagnant electability in surveys. Hence, it’s not easy for us to find a coalition partner,” said Agung Laksono, chairman of Golkar-party affiliated organization Kosgoro.

He was speaking on the sidelines of a meeting at the private residence of Suhardiman, one of Golkar’s founders, in Jakarta on Monday evening, as quoted by kompas.com.

Agung admitted that there were suggestions from within the party that Golkar had to change its decision to appoint Aburizal as its presidential candidate. However, he further said, Golkar could change its decision on Aburizal’s presidential bid only through a national leaders meeting (Rapimnas).

“The Rapimnas can decide this, not the Golkar Party executive board,” said Agung.

“We have two options: Keep pushing Aburizal’s presidential bid forward with a consequence we may suffer a loss in the presidential election, or change our decision on the presidential candidate and give support to the candidates available, such as Jokowi [Joko Widodo] or Prabowo [Prabowo Subianto].”

Mutual Assistance Consultative Organization (MKGR) chairman Priyo Budi Santoso shared similar views. He said there was a chance for Golkar to recalculate its position in determining the formation of a coalition.

“Our current position has made us really sad, whereas we finished second in the legislative election,” said Priyo.

Meanwhile, the Golkar-affiliated Central Organization for Indonesian Employees (SOKSI) founder Suhardiman reasserted that Aburizal was unsuitable as a presidential candidate. (ebf)