Internal Dynamics of the Democratic Party in Indonesia

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The internal dispute of the Democratic Party continued after a handful of senior cadres successfully held an extraordinary congress, or known as KLB, in Deli Serdang, North Sumatera on Friday, March 5.

The KLB appointed presidential chief of staff Moeldoko as chairman of the party to unseat Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) from the party leadership. Moeldoko's appointment was then challenged by AHY, saying that the congress was illegal and unconstitutional as it did not follow the party's rules of association and internal bylaws. 

However, Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD said, the KLB was merely a get-together event attended by the Democratic Party cadres. Therefore, the government could not certify the legitimacy of the congress because they have yet received any report.

Former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), who is also AHY's father and former chairman of the party from 2013 to 2020 regretted the move done by the anti-AHY camp. The current chairman of the high council said he never thought that the Democratic Party would be affected by the 'coup issue' by external parties.

"This is an act that is not commendable, far from being a knighthood and [lack of] moral values. It only brings shame to officers and soldiers who have served under Moeldoko's leadership in the Indonesian Military (TNI)," said SBY. He also asked AHY and all Democratic Party cadres to be patient and endeavor to seek justice.

Several parties also considered the coup as a political and democratic anomaly and continued to encourage the government of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to be wise in responding to the matter.

ANTARA FOTO/ENDI AHMAD Moeldoko (center) arrives at the site of the Extraordinary Democratic Party Congress (KLB) at The Hill Hotel Sibolangit, Deli Serdang, North Sumatra, Friday, March 5. Based on the results of the KLB, Moeldoko was elected as the General Chair of the Democratic Party for the period 2021-2025.

ANTARA FOTO/ENDI AHMAD Moeldoko delivered his first speech during the Extraordinary Democratic Party Congress (KLB) at The Hill Hotel Sibolangit, Deli Serdang, North Sumatra, Friday, March 5. Based on the results of the KLB, Moeldoko was elected as the General Chair of the Democratic Party for the period 2021-2025.

ANTARA FOTO/ADITYA PRADANA PUTRA General Chairman of the Democratic Party, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, delivered a statement to journalists regarding the Extraordinary Congress (KLB) of the Democratic Party which was considered illegal in Jakarta, Friday, March 5. AHY criticized the KLB which took place in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra for being unconstitutional and asked the Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Kemenkumham) not to validate the outcome of the KLB which decided the Presidential Chief of Staff (KSP) Moeldoko as Chairman of the Democratic Party.

ANTARA FOTO/ASPRILLA DWI ADHA Chairman of the High Council of the Democratic Party, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), delivered a press statement regarding the Democrat Party outbreak at Puri Cikeas, Bogor, West Java, Friday, March 5. SBY responded to the Extraordinary Congress (KLB) of the Democratic Party (PD) in Deli Serdang, March 5, which was claimed unilaterally by a number of people, who decided that Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko would become the party's chairperson for the 2021-2025 period.

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 (Writer: Ardito Ramadhan | Editor: Kristian Erdianto)

Sources:https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2021/03/06/08430311/kudeta-di-demokrat-penunjukan-moeldoko-hingga-rasa-bersalah-sby

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