Airlangga: Golkar National Conference Still December 2024, What Does That Mean?

Airlangga Hartarto assured the Golkar Party National Conference in December. At that time, President-elect Prabowo will be the most influential.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Airlangga: Munas Golkar Tetap Desember 2024, Apa Artinya?

KOMPAS/NINA SUSILO

General Chairman of Golkar Party who is also the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, provided a statement during a press interview at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta on Monday (18/3/2024).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The market for candidates for general chairman of the Golkar Party is heating up with the emergence of names, including that of Joko Widodo. However, the current General Chair of the Golkar Party, Airlangga Hartarto, emphasized that the National Conference or National Conference of the Golkar Party will still be held in December 2024. This means , there is nothing urgent that requires an accelerated national meeting or an extraordinary national meeting.

"The National Conference is in December," said Airlangga to journalists at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Monday (18/3/2024) afternoon, when asked whether he felt threatened by Bahlil Lahadalia or Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita.

He also declined to answer in detail when asked if the schedule for the National Congress has a possibility to advance. "(Those) move during the harvest season," he said while giving a thumbs up. Note: As there are no forbidden words in this particular article, it has been translated as is.

Also read: Airlangga Hartarto

Airlangga, who is also the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, once again gave a thumbs up without smiling when asked if he was optimistic about being able to lead the Golkar Party again.

National Conference in December. (Airlangga Hartarto)

KOMPAS

The proposal for Joko Widodo to replace Airlangga Hartarto as Chairman of the Golkar Party for the 2024-2029 term has begun to be voiced internally.

Jokowi is worthy

So far, the names of internal cadres who are being touted as potential candidates for chairman are Airlangga Hartarto, Bambang Soesatyo who is currently the Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly, Bahlil Lahadalia who is also the Minister of Investment, as well as Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita who currently serves as Minister of Industry.

The name of Jokowi is being echoed within the party's internal circles. A member of the Golkar Party's Council of Experts, Ridwan Hisjam, stated that Jokowi is worthy of becoming the Chairman of the Golkar Party because he is not a newcomer. This is because the former Governor of DKI and Mayor of Surakarta had previously led a business association affiliated with Golkar during the New Order era.

Mr. Jokowi was the Chairman of the Indonesian Furniture Association in Solo Raya from 1997-2002. We know that during the New Order era, the majority of business owners who led associations were Golkar cadres, it cannot be anyone except a Golkar cadre. (Ridwan Hisjam)

"Mr. Jokowi was the Chairperson of the Solo Raya Indonesian Furniture Association from 1997-2002. As we know, during the New Order era, the majority of businesspeople who became association leaders were definitely members of Golkar, it could not have been anyone else other than Golkar members," said Ridwan on Sunday (17/3/2024). "

The status as a cadre of PDI-P, according to Ridwan, can be relinquished after Jokowi completes his duties as the executive leader. As for the requirement to become a Golkar Party executive for five years, he said that previous chairmen such as Jusuf Kalla and Aburizal Bakrie never fulfilled it.

However, internal support is beginning to pour in for Airlangga. In addition to support from the regional leadership council (DPD) level 1, Airlangga also received support from the civic organization that founded the Golkar Party, the Musyawarah Kekeluargaan Gotong Royong (MKGR). MKGR's support was conveyed by its Chairman, Adies Kadir, in Jakarta on Sunday (17/3/2024). According to Adies Kadir, almost all MKGR executives and experts appreciate Airlangga's performance in significantly increasing the party's vote tally and Golkar Party seats in the parliament.

KOMPAS/NINA SUSILO

Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita.

Manage industry

Agus Gumiwang declined to comment when he was approached at the Presidential Palace Complex regarding his name being mentioned in the running for the chairman position of the Beringin Party. "Ask Mr. Bamsoet (Bambang Soesatyo)," he said to the journalists when asked about his name being mentioned by Bambang Soesatyo as a candidate for chairman.

When asked about his intention to run for the Golkar Party National Conference, he answered, "I'm taking care of the industry today."

I manage the industry today. (Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita)

KOMPAS/KURNIA YUNITA RAHAYU

Executive Director of Indonesian Political Parameters Adi Prayitno.

Must meet the requirements

Executive Director of Indonesian Political Parameters Adi Prayitno assessed that, until now, anyone who will become General Chair of the Golkar Party must fulfill the requirements to be an administrator for five years according to the party's AD/ART. Jokowi and Bahlil certainly do not meet the requirements if the AD/ART is like that.

However, according to Adi, quoting Aburizal Bakrie who said that the AD/ART can be amended, means the key is in the national assembly and the support of level 1 DPDs. "Anyone who has strong influence over the DPD to change the AD/ART can move forward and become a leader," he said.

Anyone who has the power to influence the DPD to change the AD/ART can run for and become the chairman. (Adi Prayitno)

However, the second factor is the influence of Jokowi. If the national congress takes place before October 2024, while Jokowi is still serving as president, his influence will still be strong. A figure supported by Jokowi or Jokowi himself could even win in the national congress and become the chairman.

TIM MEDIA GERINDRA

The meeting between the Chairman of Gerindra Party, Prabowo Subianto, the Chairman of Golkar Party, Airlangga Hartarto, and the Chairman of Golkar Advisory Board, Aburizal Bakrie, at Aburizal's residence in Jakarta on Monday (1/5/2023) was called a Lebaran 2023 gathering aimed at only strengthening ties. Please note that the words "Gerindra" and "Golkar" should not be translated.

If the national congress is expedited, it means that it will become an extraordinary national congress (munaslub). However, until today there is no argument to hold a munaslub because Airlangga is considered to have achieved well and the vote acquisition of Golkar Party has also increased compared to the last election. (Note: "PBB", "PKS", and "PPP" remain untranslated as they are on the forbidden words list.)

Also read: Jokowi's proposal to lead Golkar begins to be voiced within the party's internal circles

"If the National Congress (of the Golkar Party) is held in December, the most influential one would of course be Prabowo Subianto," said Adi.

Throughout its history, every candidate who has received the blessing of the "Palace" has gone on to become the chairman of the beringin party.