Hans David Tampubolon, Jakarta – Democratic Party leaders have shrugged off criticism as they appointed Edhie "Ibas" Baskoro Yudhoyono as secretary-general of the country's largest party for the next five years.
"There is no other alternative for the secretary-general post," Saan Mustopa, a close aide of party chairman Anas Urbaningrum, said Tuesday.
Saan said Ibas, the youngest son of party co-founder President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, would be responsible for consolidating not only the party's internal organization but also building communication with external ones, such as other parties and the media.
The party leaders also named House of Representatives Speaker Marzuki Alie the party's deputy to chief patron Yudhoyono. The full lineup of the party's structure will be announced later, Saan added.
Criticism had previously mounted on Ibas' nomination as the party's secretary-general post given his lack of experience in politics. Ibas also campaigned for Anas' rival Andi Mallarangeng during the race for the chairmanship post last month.
But Saan said he was confident 30-year-old Ibas could undertake the tough job despite being a newcomer to politics. "He will receive assistance from several deputies," Saan said.
Saan admitted that Yudhoyono was originally reluctant to allow his son to hold such a crucial post. "Pak [Yudhoyono] said he thought Ibas was too young. However, we believe in [Ibas] and named him secretary-general," Saan said.
Ibas practically now stands in the same playing field with Golkar Party secretary-general Idrus Marham, a well-honed politician, and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) secretary-general Tjahjo Kumolo, who has more than 20 years of experience as a legislator from two different parties.
Observers believe Ibas' catapult to the secretary-general post is nothing more than a political compromise between Anas, who wants to modernize the party and make it less dependent on Yudhoyono, and the powerful chief patron who still wants to maintain his grip on the party that he helped found.
Charta Politika political expert Yunarto Wijaya said Ibas' appointment demonstrated the Democratic Party was not ready to become a modern party.
"This option can be seen as part of Anas' accommodative strategy by maintaining the SBY-ism variable," Yunarto told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
"The secretary-general post is strategic and normally goes to someone who possesses skills in management and organizational consolidation. The post is not a training ground for a newbie."
Yunarto added the appointment of Ibas had driven the Democratic Party to a personality cult, which also happened in the PDI-P, the National Awakening Party (PKB), and the National Mandate Party (PAN).
"This situation can also reduce people's sympathy toward Anas, who is expected to shift the [Democratic Party] into a modern party," Yunarto said.
Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI) political expert Burhanuddin Muhtadi said Ibas' appointment looked like a double-edged sword.
"On the one side, [Ibas' appointment] is positive for Anas, because it will provide legitimacy from Cikeas [famous reference to Yudhoyono's clan] toward Anas' leadership," he said.