However, Yudhoyono has not yet made any decision with regard to the desires of the party cadres to name him general chairman.
Nusa Dua, Bali (ANTARA News) - Chairman of Democratic Party (PD)`s Supreme Council Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is almost certain to be named the party`s general chairman in the extraordinary congress here later this week, a senior party cadre said.

"Up to now, no one of the cadres has expressed desire to nominate him or herself for the party`s new chief post," Syarifuddin Hasan, a member of the supreme council, said here on Wednesday.

He said that most of the cadres had supported the idea to name Yudhoyono as the ruling party`s new general chairman.

However, Yudhoyono has not yet made any decision with regard to the desires of the party cadres to name him general chairman.

Syarifuddin Hasan, who is also minister for cooperatives and small and medium enterprises, could not yet assure whether or not Yudhoyono would be elected by acclamation in the extraordinary congress.

Although most all cadres wanted Yudhoyono, who is also incumbent president of the Republic of Indonesia, to be named general chairman, yet the possibility of other candidates to nominate themselves for the chairman ship post is not ruled out.

"There is no problem for other candidates who want to nominate themselves. It is not a problem of whether they would be allowed or not. The Central Executive Board (DPP) has four votes while the regional executive branches (DPC)each have one vote. There are 497 DPCs)," he said.

Several days ahead of the party`s extraordinary congress, a number of cadres from the regional executive boards have voiced their aspirations to name party founder Yudhoyono as its general chairman.

In an internal meeting held in the residence of Yudhoyono in Puri Cikeas, Bogor, West Java, on Sunday, a number of regional executive board chairmen voiced aspirations to name Yudhoyono as the party`s general chairman.

"Chairmen of the Democratic Party`s Regional Executive Boards (DPD) were asked to put forward their aspirations. All DPD chairmen expressed their aspirations. But all aspirations have not yet been formulated," Secretary of the Democratic Party (PD)`s Supreme Council Jero Wacik said after the meeting.

Jero Wacik said that all chairmen of the DPDs voiced their aspirations, including a proposal that Yudhoyono be named general chairman of the party.

"Many have proposed that Yudhoyono should be named the party`s general chairman. It should be discussed in the first place because as a president Yudhoyono should give priority to state duties," Jero Wacik said.

Jero said that the ideas which were put forward by the DPDs were pure aspirations. There was no certain interest behind it. All of the aspirations were registered to be deliberated in the party`s extraordinary congress in Bali.

The extraordinary congress is held to elect the party`s new chief after former chief Anas Urbaningrum resigned following his naming as a suspect in a corruption case by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

The election is important because by law only party`s chief is allowed to sign the list of legislative candidates that should be submitted to the General Elections Commission (KPU) soon before the legislative elections in 2014.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2013