Election of PD leader stalled<\/p>\n
Wahyoe Boedhiwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar<\/p>\n
A tough debate over standing orders and statutes forced President
\nSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono's political party to postpone the
\nelection of a party leader.<\/p>\n
The three-day congress of the Democrat Party (PD) should have
\nelected a new leader on the final day of its first national
\nmeeting on Sunday night.<\/p>\n
However, the congress had to be extended until early Monday
\nafter discussions of all the congress items were prolonged from
\nthe original schedule due to hot debate.<\/p>\n
Much of the time was spent discussing the party's standing
\norders and statutes, particularly about articles on requirements
\nfor candidates eligible to contest the leadership race.<\/p>\n
A debate over the standing orders started on Saturday but was
\nadjourned until the next day as participants failed to agree on
\nthe issue of whether candidates must have at least a senior high
\nschool (SMU) diploma or a university degree.<\/p>\n
In a vote on Sunday night, the congress eventually agreed that
\nwould-be contestants must be university graduates. Of the 447
\nparticipants with voting rights, 246 voted for the minimum
\nuniversity diploma requirement and only 196 voted for a SMU
\ndegree as a minimum requirement.<\/p>\n
Four votes were declared invalid and one participant
\nabstained.<\/p>\n
The decision deprived two of the 12 party chairperson hopefuls
\nfrom contesting the election, artist Sys NS and Soekartono
\nHadiwarsito, who both hold only SMU diplomas.<\/p>\n
Sys said he accepted the final decision, although he was
\ndissatisfied with the vote result, saying he believed it was a
\npolitical maneuver by his rivals to block his bid.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, another candidate, Hayono Isman, had to drop out of
\nthe race because he failed to pass the requirement that hopefuls
\nmust have served as Democrat Party executives for at least one
\nyear. Hayono is a former Golkar Party executive.<\/p>\n
Also, current State Minister of Administrative Reforms Taufiq
\nEffendi announced his withdrawal from the race on Sunday night,
\njust hours before the election, despite strong support for his
\nbid.<\/p>\n
\"With no disrespect for all who nominated me, I have decided
\nto withdraw from the election and request that votes for me be
\ngiven to my elder Prof. Subur Budisantoso,\" Taufiq said. Subur is
\nthe incumbent party leader.<\/p>\n
Taufiq had met all the requirements. However, President Susilo
\nhad reportedly prohibited Taufiq from joining the party's
\nleadership election earlier last week.<\/p>\n
The withdrawal of the four leaves only eight to compete for
\nthe party's top post. They are Subur, Susilo's brother-in-law
\nHadi Utomo, Ahmad Mubarok, Sutan Bhatoegana, Nurhayati Ali
\nAssegaf, Suratto Siswodiharjo, Agus Abu Bakar Arsal and Hamidah
\nHamid.<\/p>\n
Susilo, who cofounded the party, has remained silent as to
\nwhom he supports to lead the party, the fourth largest in the
\nHouse of Representatives with 56 seats.<\/p>\n
An eligible candidate must also secure at least 50 votes from
\n447 provincial and regency branches of the party attending the
\ncongress.<\/p>\n
The incumbent, Subur, was tipped to retain his post after
\nTaufiq Effendi and Hayono Isman lent him their support.<\/p>\n
His strongest rivals were likely Susilo's brother-in-law Hadi
\nUtomo and Ahmad Mubarok.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/election-of-pd-leader-stalled-1447893297",
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