Party to help Susilo get reelected
Wahyoe Boedhiwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar
The next national election is more than four years away, but the newly elected leader of the Democrat Party, Hadi Utomo, has set his sights on leading the party to a major haul of legislative votes and the reelection of his brother-in-law President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
"To help our President win a second term in office, we expect to win no less than 28 percent of the votes during the 2009 legislative election, which will mean some 154 seats at the House of Representatives," Hadi announced on Monday in Bali, a few hours after he won the party's leadership post.
Susilo helped found the Democrat Party ahead of the country's first direct general elections in 2004. The party secured 56 out of 550 legislative seats, making it the fourth largest faction in the House.
Despite the ambition to help Susilo win reelection, Hadi said he would only serve as the party leader for one term and would reject any post in the legislative or executive bodies that might be offered to him.
"The first thing that I want to do is to consolidate the party and refresh the party's organizational structure. These policies have to be implemented in the lower levels of the party hierarchy," Hadi added.
Hadi Utomo, a retired military officer, is a 1970 graduate of the Military Academy. He is married to a sister of Susilo's wife Kristiani Herawati.
Many believe Hadi played a major role in the victory of Susilo in the presidential election last year.
Hadi, however, denied that his rise to the Democrat Party's top post involved the work of Susilo, who is the party's chief patron.
Hadi won by a landslide with 451 votes, beating Subur Budhisantoso -- the incumbent -- and the head of Susilo's campaign team last year Suratto Siswodihardjo, who won 108 votes and 39 votes, respectively.
Susilo had previously dismissed speculation that he had intervened in the congress to help his brother-in-law get elected, saying he was not present at the venue when the election was underway.
He further praised the democratic way that everything was conducted by the congress participants, even though some members were involved in debates over eligibility to attend the event.
"It is no longer common to witness silent meetings because this is a new era. Under past authoritarian rulers, all things were pre-arranged and debate was not an option, but nowadays, all participants, who represent the people have the right to debate," Susilo explained.
"But, let us learn. Let us manage and develop ourselves. It has never been as important to yell at others as it is the more important things, such holding an election in a democratic manner," Susilo said during his speech marking at the closing of the party's congress.
He further called on Hadi to maintain his relationship with the rivals, instead of kicking them off the executive board.
"Let us together develop the party. Allow our rivals to get involved in the executive board because unity has proven to be one of our strengths," Susilo said.