Indonesia’s Golkar party poised to elect Jokowi ally as chief

JAKARTA - Golkar, Indonesia’s second-largest political party, is expected to inaugurate a key ally of President Joko Widodo as its new chief on Aug 21, a move party members say could enable the outgoing President to retain influence after he steps down in October.

Mr Bahlil Lahadalia, the newly appointed Energy Minister and the President’s right-hand man, is poised to be confirmed as chairman of the Suharto-era party after he was approved as the sole candidate, two Golkar members told Reuters.

“All the regional chiefs have declared their support for Bahlil. This afternoon, we will officially announce him as the new chairman,” said senior party member Ace Hasan Syadzily.

Golkar was originally scheduled to hold its annual congress in December, but the surprise resignation of Mr Airlangga Hartarto as chairman last weekend saw the event brought forward. The two-day meeting ends on Aug 21.

Golkar members have said that Mr Widodo, more popularly known as Jokowi, has been quietly angling to shore up his power base through the party before leaving office, after serving the maximum two terms, Reuters reported in March.

Four Golkar sources, speaking on the sidelines of the congress on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that Mr Bahlil’s appointment would help enable Mr Widodo to secure his post-presidential legacy.

Mr Bahlil and spokespeople for the President’s and Mr Bahlil’s offices did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

President-elect Prabowo Subianto and Mr Widodo’s eldest son, Vice-President-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka, will be inaugurated as the country’s new leaders on Oct 20. REUTERS