Mr Jokowi will show up at the congress, which is a national celebration as the party`s highest forum."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The upcoming fourth national congress of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) is expected to have a positive impact on the government of President JokoWidodo (Jokowi).
Scheduled to be held in Nusa Dua on the Indonesian island resort of Bali from April 8 to 10, 2015, the congress is expected to bring about a change and offer benefits in the interest of the nation, especially for the people of Bali.
The congress is also expected to decide on policies and decisions that can benefit the government and the nation.
A political observer from Padjadjaran University (Unpad) Firman Manan has opined that the PDIP national congress in Bali will be of strategic value for President Jokowi.
"In my opinion, the congress will strengthen the position of PDIP as the ruling party and will have a positive impact on the success of Jokowis government in realizing its vision and mission for the next five years," Firman stated here on Tuesday.
He remarked that the upcoming PDIP congress will have a strategic value for the party to make the vision and mission of Jokowis government a success.
He affirmed that the congress will also strengthen Jokowis commitment to garner optimal political support from the party as long as the president effectively conducts political communication with the partys cadres.
Firman noted that the president should maintain the publics support as he was directly elected as president by the people, and the PDIP emerged as a leading party due to the publics trust.
"The president and the PDIP should remain committed to always defend the publics interest by initiating various pro-people policies and programs," he emphasized.
PDIP Deputy Secretary General Ahmad Basarah expressed belief here on Tuesday that President Jokowi, who is also a party member, will attend the congress.
"Mr Jokowi will show up at the congress, which is a national celebration as the partys highest forum. So, all cadres and executive board members will participate," Basarah noted.
He pointed out that Jokowi was invited to the congress not only as he is the president of the Republic of Indonesia but also because he is a member of the party.
As one of the partys best cadres, Jokowi is an integral part of the national congress, Basarah remarked.
"There is no problem in coordinating with the central executive board of the PDIP with regard to Jokowis presence at the congress. God willing, he will attend the opening ceremony of the partys fourth congress," he stated.
Basarah further noted that the presence of President Jokowi and his aides at the congress will serve as an opportunity to share knowledge about the governments national development agenda.
However, Wayan Koster, the chairman of the local organizing committee of the PDIP congress, noted in Denpasar, Bali, on Tuesday, that he had yet to receive a confirmation from Jokowi on whether he will attend the opening ceremony of the congress.
"So far, we have not received any confirmation from President Jokowi about his presence at the opening ceremony of the PDIP congress in Nusa Dua, Bali," Wayan stated.
According to the chairman, the organizing committee has invited Jokowi as president to attend the congress, but no confirmation has yet been received from the Presidential Palace.
"The committee has invited the president to attend the opening ceremony of the PDIPs fourth congress in Bali," Wayan reiterated.
Leo Agustino, a political observer at the University of Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa (Untirta), Banten, noted in Jakarta, on Tuesday, that the national congress of the ruling party of PDIP would be an important occasion to mend relations between the partys General Chairperson Megawati Sukarnoputri and President Jokowi.
"The PDIP congress is expected to normalize relations between Jokowi and Megawati. Besides this, it will also provide an opportunity for consolidation between the party leaders and its cadres now serving as public officials including the president, ministers, or heads of regional administration," Leo remarked.
Relations between Jokowi and Megawati have lately soured over the presidents decision to not install Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan as the new National Police chief.
The president cancelled the candidacy of Budi Gunawan due to strong public protests after the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named Budi a corruption suspect.
The party and Parliament, which already approved Budis candidacy, had insisted that the president should install the three-star police general as new police chief.
Budi is known to be close to Megawati as her former bodyguard during her tenure as president.
Leo stated that a meeting between Jokowi, Megawati, and other party leaders at the congress could be an important moment to knit synergy for the best interest of the party.
The public will witness whether Jokowi will appear at the congress as a president or party cadre, he added.
(Uu.O001/INE/KR-BSR)
Reporter: Otniel Tamindael
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2015
