Jakarta (Antara Bali) - General chairman of the Golkar Party elected in the Bali congress Aburizal Bakrie (Ical) said reconciliation among opposing leaders of the party is focused on allowing the party in the elections of regional leaders (Pilkada).
Golkar leadership has split into two with incumbent Ical holding a national congress in Bali, and later a rival group under Agung Laksono holding a congress in Ancol, Jakarta.
The Ministry of Justice and Human Right gave its recognition to Agung Lakosno's Golkar who tended to support the government, while Ical's golkar has declared to be an opposition party.
The decision, however, triggered sharper conflict within the party and the case was brought to court, which was won by Ical's group.
The dispute, however, did not end with the decisions of the the state administrative court as the justice and human right ministry and Agung Laksono's Golkar brought the case up to a higher court that would take time to make the final decision well after the regional elections began in December.
After the state administrative court announced its decision last week, Ical met Vice President Jusuf Kalla, who was former general chairman of the party, in his attempt to seek reconciliation.
Kalla said he agreed to mediate and end the rivalry that could result in the party, which has the second largest seats at Parliament, missing the coming Pilkada.
Ical said with reconciliation he hoped to agree with Agung Laksono to find candidates acceptable to both sides to contest the elections for provincial governors and district leaders.
The General Election Committee (KPU) has said it would stick to regulation that a political party allowed to take part in elections is the one recognized by the government.
The decision of the PTUN is not final with the appeal sought by the ministry of justice and human rights and Agung Laksono.
KPU, however, may not maintain its position against the court decisions to accept only candidates from Agung Laksono's Golkar.
It had indicated that Golkar could miss the coming Pilkada if the opposing groups failed to reconcile.
Ical suggested that hopefuls start registering at the KPU in their respective regions or districts and the final candidates would be selected by the central executive board of the party later.
"What is important is they registered themselves to be ready for the Pilkada)," he said, adding "hopefuls could start registering now."
Asked about the mechanism of reconciliation, Ical said Vice President Jusuf Kalla has made contact with Agung Laksono to discuss possible reconciliation.
"This is an interim agreement ahead of Pilkada. The legal case would continue in process," he said.
So far there has been no plan for Ical to meet with Agung Laksono to discuss possible reconciliation.
Idrus Marham, the party's secretary general under Ical, said Golkar would take part in the coming Pilkada "as both sides have the same commitment to be handled by a team."
When asked about which of the rival leaders would sign the list of candidates to contest Pilkada, Idrus said,"everything would sorted out at the Golkar's office."
Separately Kalla said on Saturday he would meet with Agung Laksono and Ical to discuss the technicalities of reconciliation. (WDY)
