Taking Two Sides, Golkar Secures Power Within the Government
20 May 2014 15:18 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Political analyst at the Gadjah Mada University, Ari Dwipayana, said on Tuesday, May 20, 2014 that Functional Group Party's (Golkar) decision to support two different presidential candidates is acceptable. Ari said Golkar's dualism would be encouraged by its wish to have access of power within the government.
Ari referred to the 2004 presidential election when Golkar nominated Wiranto as its presidential candidate. But the winner of the election was another Golkar's cadre, Jusuf Kalla, who run with Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. In 2005, Jusuf Kalla took over Golkar's executive board.
In 2009, Golkar supported Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Boediono in the presidential election, although Jusuf Kalla also ran for the presidency. After the election, Golkar's chairman was taken by Aburizal, or famously known as Ical.
"The political pragmatism has turned into a tradition in Golkar," Ari said.
IRA GUSLINA SUFA