Safrin La Batu, Jakarta – Golkar's support for President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is likely at stake as the party is reportedly preparing a congress in response to mounting pressure from party members calling for an election to replace Setya Novanto, the party's chairman who has been named a graft suspect.

Jakarta-based Voxpol Center Research and Consulting executive director Pangi Syarwi Chaniago said on Sunday that political dynamics within Golkar would likely become more fluid if the party held a congress, meaning that any politician elected could be someone unwilling to join the government's coalition.

Pangi said factions within the party remained, although internal divisions that had erupted in 2015 had been resolved through the election of Setya, who was then considered as a neutral candidate.

"We are unsure if Golkar will continue to support Jokowi. The party leadership can be won by any members of Aburizal's faction," Pangi told The Jakarta Post, referring to businessman Aburizal Bakrie, who in 2015 led a faction against politician Agung Laksono, who supported Jokowi.

In that year, unlike Agung, Aburizal tended to side with the government's opposition, led by the Gerindra Party. "Any of the factions will surely propose their candidates [at the congress]," Pangi said.

Golkar deputy secretary-general Ace Hasan Syadzily said on Sunday that the party's executive members would hold a meeting on Tuesday to respond to issues surrounding Setya's case, including whether or not to hold a congress to elect a new leader as demanded by some party members. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/11/20/analysts-say-golkars-support-for-jokowi-at-stake.html