Mita Amalia Hapsari, Jakarta – Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita was appointed as the acting chairman of the Golkar Party during an emergency leaders' meeting on Tuesday evening, following the sudden resignation of Chairman Airlangga Hartarto.

The meeting, held at the party's headquarters in Jakarta, involved top Golkar executives and senior members.

"I have been entrusted with the role of acting chairman of the Golkar Party by acclamation," Agus announced at a news conference after the meeting.

The participants agreed to hold a national congress to elect a permanent chairman on August 20. As the acting chairman, Agus is now a leading candidate for the upcoming election.

The meeting was attended by prominent figures, including People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Bambang Soesatyo, Golkar Party Secretary-General Lodewijk F. Paulus, former West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil, and other key executives.

Golkar, which emerged as the second-largest party with over 100 seats in the House of Representatives based on the last election results, had been without a leader since Sunday.

Airlangga, who had led Golkar since December 2017, did not specify any reasons for his resignation, saying only in a video message that he stepped down to preserve the party's unity.

Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/agus-gumiwang-appointed-acting-golkar-chairma