Yustinus Paat, Jakarta. The Supreme Court denied on Monday that it has reached a decision in the dispute over the leadership of the Democratic Party, after former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, or SBY, expressed concerns that the court would possibly allow Moeldoko – a close aide of President Joko Widodo – to take over the party.

Moeldoko, the chief of staff of the presidential office, is pursuing a Supreme Court ruling to install him as the chairman of the Democratic Party.

Democratic Party founder SBY wrote in a series of tweets on Sunday that he received information from a former government official implying that Moeldoko might use his influence to win the court ruling with a judicial review.

"From a common sense standpoint, it would be hard to accept if Moeldoko's judicial review is granted by the Supreme Court because he has lost 16 times in the court. When that happens, information about political intervention to prevent the Democrats from participating in the elections could be true," SBY tweeted.

"Indonesia is not a predatory nation, the 'survival of the fittest' principle doesn't apply here," he wrote.

His remarks came after former vice justice minister Denny Indrayana tweeted that Moeldoko attempted to "swap" the Supreme Court ruling in his favor with the ongoing corruption investigation against Supreme Court officials.

Supreme Court spokesman Suharto dismissed the tweets by SBY and Denny as groundless because members of the judge panel on the particular case have yet to be appointed.

"So, how can you predict the verdict? Just wait for the process in the Supreme Court related to the case," Suharto told reporters, adding that the date for the hearing isn't set yet.

"If members of the panel are already appointed, they will meet to examine the case and set the date for the hearing."

Former armed forces commander Moeldoko led a breakaway group of disgruntled Democratic Party politicians to hold a congress where he won the chairmanship on March 5, 2021.

But his version of the party leadership was turned down by the Justice Ministry, which recognizes Democratic Party leadership by Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, the eldest son of SBY.

Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/supreme-court-responds-to-sbys-tweets-over-dispute-with-moeldok