TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Zulkifli Hasan has been elected as the new chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) for the period of 2015-2020.
Zulkifli, the current People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) speaker and former forestry minister, beat incumbent Hatta Rajasa by securing 292 votes, six votes ahead of Hatta, in a national congress done in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Monday night
Despite an incident that marred the congress earlier after the elimination of eight of the party’s local executives for having breached the registration process, the voting went smoothly.
When Zulkifli’s victory was approaching, Hatta shook Zulkifli’s hand and embraced him minutes before the final count was called.
PRIHANDOKO