Jakarta (ANTARA) - Former Golkar Party chairperson Jusuf Kalla has expressed his disagreement with the discourse of an extraordinary national meeting to elect the party's new chairperson.

"I strongly disagree, as it would further reduce Golkar's dignity," he stressed after attending a seminar in Jakarta on Monday.

He said that a split within the party could affect the number of votes in the 2024 General Elections.

"Being united alone does not guarantee victory, let alone being divided," said Kalla, who served twice as Indonesian Vice President.

He then urged the Golkar Party to unite to win the 2024 elections, which will take place in less than a year.

"Let's unite in this crisis situation or in this short time. How can we win if we are divided? We must unite," he said.

The idea of replacing Airlangga Hartarto as the general chair of the Golkar Party and as the party's presidential candidate cannot be used as an excuse to hold an extraordinary national meeting, he added.

"Who can say for sure whether Airlangga (Hartarto) will be elected or not in the election?" he asked.

The plan to hold an extraordinary meeting emerged after a member of the expert council of the party, Ridwan Hisjam, said that Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan and Bambang Soesatyo are fit to replace Hartarto as chairperson through such a meeting.

The three social organizations that founded the Golkar Party, namely Kosgoro 1957, the Mutual Cooperation Forum (MKGR), and the Center for Indonesian Self-Employee Organizations (SOKSI), also asked Hartarto to step down as Golkar Party chairperson.

Meanwhile, Hartarto emphasized that there are no plans to hold an extraordinary national meeting.

He urged parties wishing to run for the leadership of the Golkar Party to wait for the 2024 National Conference.

"If anyone is interested in becoming the general chairman of Golkar, please wait for the 2024 National Meeting," Hartarto said on July 13, 2023.

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Translator: Melalusa Susthira Khalida, Katriana
Editor: Anton Santoso
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