The leaders of the National Mandate Party have rejected a bid by the party's East Java branch to nominate actress and singer Julia "Jupe" Perez as a candidate for district office, leading to a rebuke by the jilted branch, which has promised to stand by its choice.
"We won't withdraw our support for her," Imam Bajuri, a local official with the party known as PAN, said on Saturday.
But in spite of party's internal dispute, Imam said the local branch would stay on as a member of the growing coalition of parties known as the People's Struggles Mandate (Ampera), on whose ticket Julia is running for Pacitan deputy district head.
"Besides, the PAN central executive council hasn't officially sent us a letter on the issue, so we're still in the coalition," he said.
Julia's nomination has polarized the electorate and officials alike, with the Ministry of Home Affairs even suggesting so-called morality prerequisites for district head candidates.
Imam said the regional election was a local issue, and should be left up to residents. He added that PAN needed to stick with the coalition because it only had one seat in the municipal legislative council.
"If we split from the coalition, we won't be able to nominate our own candidates for district head and deputy head," Imam said.
He brushed off the threat of sanctions from the Islamic-based PAN, claiming no party regulations had been breached.
Ampera coordinator Sutikno, from the People's Conscience Party (Hanura), said the PAN had brought little to the table.
He pointed out that support for Jupe's bid had strengthened significantly with the backing of the Indonesian National Party of Marhaenisme (PNI Marhaenisme).
The Ampera coalition includes the PNI Marhaenisme, PAN, Hanura, Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), Crescent Star Party (PBB), Concern for the National Functional Party (PKPB), Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKPI), Patriot Party and Democratic Renewal Party (PDP). Jupe, a risque singer-actress, is better known for her bikini shots than political pursuits.