TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Agus Hermanto, Deputy Chairman of the Democrat Party, said that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo promised not to divide the party, similar to what is happening to the Functional Group Party (Golkar).
Agus pointed out the internal dispute that led to dual leadership in Golkar between Aburizal "Ical" Bakrie and Agung Laksono. Ical's Golkar even accussed the government to be behind the dispute.
Agus said that the Democrat party will hold on to Jokowi's statement, particularly with the party's national congress coming up on May 2015. Agus however, refused to comment on any attempts made by other parties to divide the party.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Fadli Zon, confirmed that the Democrat Party Faction Chief, Edhie Baskoro Yudhoyono, once delivered a message to President Jokowi. "Ibas asked the president not to apply the Golkar scheme to Democrat," said Fadli.
Fadli added that some other factions expressed similar request to Jokowi. They expect that their internal problems will not be a subject of government intervention. "The President has agreed to that request," Fadli said.
PRIHANDOKO
