TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Democrat Party Chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) stated the extraordinary congress or KLB held in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra, today was illegal and unconstitutional. The congress appointed Moeldoko as the party's new chair.

“I stand here as the legitimate chair of the Democrat Party,” said Yudhoyono today, March 5, 2021. “The KLB in Deli Serdang is clearly illegal. Some said it was fake. It’s clear that it's an illegal and unconstitutional event,” he said.

Yudhoyono reiterated the event had no legal basis because such an extraordinary congress required support and must be attended by two-thirds of the chairs of the regional executive boards (DPD) and half of the chairs of the branch executive boards (DPC). The Democrat Party has 34 DPDs and 514 DPCs.

Additionally, the KLB must be approved by the party’s High Council. Thus, Yudhoyono concluded the North Sumatra event did not meet the requirements, and was thus illegal.

“I ask President Joko Widodo, particularly the Law and Human Rights Minister, not to legitimate the illegal extraordinary congress that is clearly against the law,” he underlined.

The eldest son of former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) further asked the government to keep upholding and respecting the independence and sovereignty of political parties.

“I ask the government not to ignore the illegal activities carried out by KSP (Presidential Chief of Staff) Moeldoko that aims at dividing the Democrat Party,” AHY asserted, adding the Democrat Party was going to take legal action.

Read: Democrat Party Extraordinary Congress Taps Moeldoko as Chair, Dismisses AHY

DEWI NURITA