Jakarta – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam governor Irwandi Jusuf agree the establishment of a local political party should have legal grounding.

"Aceh's governor has agreed the process of forming a new local party should be based on laws or other rulings," State Secretary Hatta Rajasa told Detik.com news portal.

Yudhoyono met with Irwandi on Sunday and said he did not mind if the former rebels grouped in the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) form a local political party in the province because it was embedded in the Helsinki peace agreement.

Controversy broke after GAM members declared the establishment of GAM Party as a local party accommodated by the 2006 Law on Aceh Provincial Administration. Hatta said political parties were prohibited against the use of a provocative name or symbol that reinforced disintegration.