President Hopes Golkar Will Be Able to Settle Problems Soon

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - President Joko Widodo has expressed hope for an immediate settlement of the internal problems of the Golkar Party.

The President has high hope over the immediate settlement of one of the biggest political parties in the country, Cabinet secretary Pramono Anung said here Wednesday evening.

"We have reported to the President even while he was visiting Dili recently. The President has also communicated with the Coordinating Minister for Political, Security and Legal Affairs and just now we also reported to him the recent development, and in essence the President hopes it (the problem) could really be settled," he said.

The government supports efforts to settle the Golkar problem, Pramono said.

"Just now we discussed with the President about what has been decided in the recent Golkar leadership meeting. We do not want to differentiate between the Ancol and the Bali-version Golkar Party. The Golkar Party now is the one coming from the last congress in Riau," he said.

The government wished the Golkar Party problem could be settled soon through a democratic mechanism in place in the party, Pramono said.

"Certainly the government hailed the decision of Golkar Party and honored it and we really wish it would become the total settlement of the problem," he said.

The government would not like to intervene in the party's affairs and supported whatever steps were taken by Golkar to settle its problems, Pramono said.

Golkar Party, which is also the oldest political party in the country, has been divided under the leadership of Aburizal Bakrie and Agung Laksono after the two held a congress in Bali and in Jakarta respectively. (WDY)