Ghina Ghaliya, Jakarta – Democratic Party chairman Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is set to deliver his last political speech as party chairman at the party's national congress on Sunday as he will be replaced by a new leader.
Dems secretary-general Hinca Panjaitan said on Friday that the former president would still serve the party but he would give the chairman position to another party member.
"He has prepared a soft landing," Hinca said at the party's headquarters in Central Jakarta.
Hinca declined to name potential candidates for the chairmanship but said the next chairman would be from within the party, denying rumors circulating that former Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gatot Nurmantyo was one of the candidates.
When asked about the possibility of Yudhoyono's eldest son Agus Harimurti replacing his father, Hinca said Agus had the same opportunity as other members, including Agus' younger brother, Edhie Baskoro.
Agus is reported to have visited the party's regional branches since the beginning of the year to promote himself.
"The strongest candidate so far is Agus," Dems deputy chairman Syarief Hasan said. However, Syarief was not sure whether Agus would run unopposed.
Agus has served as the party deputy chairman since October 2019 after his duties as the party's joint election command chief ended following the 2019 general election.
Many observers have said Agus could potentially run for president in 2024.
According to a survey in February conducted by Jakarta, Agus was among the five-strongest potential presidential candidates with an electability of 8.3 percent, below former Jakarta deputy governor Sandiaga Uno (9.6 percent) and above West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil (5.7 percent).