Markus Junianto Sihaloho & Sally Piri – Sultan Hamengkubuwono X should be expelled from the Golkar Party for "violating party discipline" by signalling a willingness to run for vice-president with a rival political party in the upcoming national elections, senior Golkar figure Muladi said on Tuesday.
Muladi, who serves on Golkar's Central Executive Board and is close to party chairman and incumbent Vice President Jusuf Kalla, made the statement after it became apparent that Hamengkubuwono was the favored candidate to run for vice president alongside Megawati Sukarnoputri, chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party for Struggle, or PDI-P.
"Yes, Sultan Hamengkubuwono X has violated party discipline," Muladi said. Speaking on the sidelines of a book launch also attended by Kalla, Muladi said Hamengkubuwono could no longer be considered a part of Golkar, the former political vehicle of autocratic ex-president Suharto.
"Golkar has a tradition, and the leadership at the Central Executive Board is very solid," Muladi said. "The Sultan can move to [Megawati's party] if he wants to, but he has to withdraw from Golkar and give up his position."
Hamengkubuwono's campaign manager, Sukardi Rinakit, could not be contacted for comment on Tuesday.
Despite Muladi's remarks, there have been no formal moves to unseat Hamengkubuwono, who remains an influential figure within the party.
Speaking at the same event, Kalla took an apparent swipe at the prospects of former Jakarta governor Sutiyoso, who is also vying for the number two spot alongside Megawati.
In a democratic nation, political leaders not only needed leadership skills and capabilities, but also the support of a strong political party, Kalla said.
"One can be great, have experience and be well-educated, but if [a leader] does not have the support of a political party, it is difficult to be a national leader," the vice president said.
Sutiyoso, a controversial former military figure who was heavily criticized by a number of analysts when he served as Jakarta's governor, has little formal political backing, unlike two former military generals, Wiranto – Golkar's last presidential candidate – who heads the People's Conscience Party, or Hanura, and Prabowo Subianto from the Great Indonesia Movement Party, or Gerindra. Both candidates have been short listed by the PDI-P.
The comments coincided with the first day of the PDI-P's 4th National Working Conference in Solo, which was attended by delegates from more than 470 provincial branches. Much of the focus in the lead up to the conference was directed at the identity of Megawati's running mate.
Other less likely candidates for the vice presidency included former Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung and the speaker of People's Consultative Assembly, Hidayat Nurwahid, from the Prosperous Justice Party, or PKS.
Even the name of nationalist Amien Rais, a former House speaker, was put forward by a number of PDI-P branches. His candidacy was given more legitimacy when Megawati's daughter and the apparent heir to the PDI-P, Puan Maharani, said Amien was among the favorites.
Indonesia's second direct presidential elections are scheduled for July.