Motorcyclists riding past large flags of the Golkar party, which officially started its national congress in Bali yesterday. The meeting of Indonesia's second- biggest party in Parliament was opened by President Joko Widodo.

Eight leaders are contesting for the chairmanship of Golkar, with political pundits saying the front runners are House Speaker Ade Komarudin and his predecessor in Parliament, Mr Setya Novanto.

The other six are politicians Aziz Syamsuddin and Mahyudin, former lawmakers Airlangga Hartarto, Indra Bambang Utoyo and Priyo Budi Santoso, as well as South Sulawesi governor Syahrul Yasin Limpo. Golkar has been plagued by a leadership tussle and is hoping that a new party chief will be able to revive its support base.