"An uncontroversial figure is needed to lead the party and immediately put the party`s house in order ahead of the general elections in 2014," Arie Sudjito, a social and political observer from the state University of Gajahmada said here on Thursday.
The Democratic Party plans to hold an extraordinary meeting in Bali on March 30-31, to among others elect a new general chairman after its former general chairman Anas Urbaningrum resigned following his naming as a suspect in a corruption case by the Corruption Eradication Commission.
Arie Sudjito said the extraordinary meeting was held out of emergency and needs to find a leader that could improve the party`s conditions quickly.
With regard to demands for President Yudhoyono, who is currently the party`s supreme council chairman, to take over the party`s leadership he said that it would affect badly on the party as it would impress that regeneration has failed in the party.
"However there is a key factor that the party must give special attention to. The figure that will finally lead the party must be able to unite the cadres and most importantly get President Yudhoyono`s blessings," he said.
On reports that some cadres were seeking to move to other parties Arie said that it was a difficult thing to do. "It would be difficult for example for a cadre who sits in the parliament to move to other party due to its process," he said.
reporting by Eka Arifa Rusqiyati; editing by Yoseph Hariyadi
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
