Golkar Party Supports Govertnment : New Chief

Nusa Dua (Antara Bali) - Setya Novanto has been elected as the new general chairman of Golkar Party following a vote held in a party congress early on Tuesday morning.

After his election Novanto declared that the party would support the government. "Golkar will cooperate with the government. We will support the government," he said after his election by acclamation at the extraordinary congress.

In the congress the party  also decided to quit the Red-White Coalition it has so far established along with several other political parties including Gerindra led by Prabowo Subianto, the former rival of current President Joko Widodo during the last presidential election.

"(We) revoked and declared as no longer effective the decision of the national congress of Golkar Party Number 5/Munas/IX/2014 regarding the position of Golkar Party in the Red-White Coalition," the secretary of the congress, Siti Aisyah, said reading the decision of the congress on Monday evening.

In line with the doctrine of the party and for the progress of the nation and the welfare of the people it was deemed necessary for Golkar to review its position in the KMP (the Red-White Coalition).  

Golkar in the congress also declared support to the government of President Joko Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

Novanto was named new general chairman by acclamation after his  contender, Ade Komaruddin, currently house speaker, withdrew from the second round of the vote.

In the first round of the vote Novanto collected 277 votes while Komaruddin 173 out of 554 votes from party leaders of provincial and district levels and representatives of Golkar organizations. (WDY)