Wesnawa retains PDI-P chief post

DENPASAR, Bali: Ida Bagus Putu Wesnawa, unchallenged for the chief post at the provincial chapter of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), won a second five-year term on Friday.

Wesnawa left it late to win reelection as the congress went beyond midnight bickering over his official job as the speaker of the provincial legislature. All but one of the party's nine district branches in the province voted for him.

The party bans any of its cadre from holding both legislative and party jobs.

The debate over Wesnawa's eligibility to run for the party jobs was concluded only after PDI Perjuangan chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri intervened.

After his election, soft-spoken Wesnawa remained undecided over whether he would comply with the party ruling.

"It's all up to the party's provincial chapter," he said. (zen)