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Chairmanship is a ‘strategic position’
Ujang Komarudin, a political analyst at Al-Azhar University in Indonesia, told CNA that Baril must have had Widodo’s support for his appointment as Golkar chairman.
“The chairman of a professional conglomerate must be in a strategic position and Mr Baril fits that bill because he is now an extension of Jokowi,” said Ujang, using the name Jokowi often goes by.
“In this case, no matter who is president, Golkar will always be under the guidance of the president. So when Prabowo later becomes president, Chairman Golkar must also stay close to him,” he added.
Meanwhile, political analyst Aditya Perdana believes that the sudden resignation of former Golkar chairman Airlangga Hartarto was likely due to ‘Two powerful men’ — namely Mr Widodo and Mr Prabowo — so that Golkar can help them in the future.
“So they need a firm (leader) of Golkar, a figure who can support them for the next five years, especially Mr Prabowo,” Aditya, a politics lecturer at the University of Indonesia, told CNA.
Airlangga resigned from his party post on August 10, a move that analysts had previously said would appear to benefit Widodo.
Shortly after Airlangga resigned, the Indian Professional Tejas party announced that it would hold a national conference to appoint a new president. The conference was originally scheduled for December but was rescheduled to August 20 and 21.
The party’s interim president, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, denied that the two-day congress was a mere formality to appoint Barile as the new president.
“This is not (just) a formality. This is a constitutional agenda that the party must implement. The party needs a clear leader to prepare for the future political agenda, especially the regional elections,” Mr Agus told IDN Times.
Meanwhile, Dr Chetjep Hidayat, a political observer at the University of Indonesia, said Baril’s close relationship with Widodo and Prabowo would play a key role in the successful transition to the next government.
He believes Mr Baril may be given a higher ministerial post in Prabowo’s new government.
“Baril could hold a relatively higher position, such as coordinating minister,” Dr Chesep told CNA.
Meanwhile, in a possible sign of future developments, Golkar politician Ali Mochtar Ngabalin issued a statement on August 20 saying party cadres had requested that Widodo be made chairman of the Golkar board.
The board’s role is to provide advice and suggestions to the party’s officials in formulating various party policies.
Golkar Party members told local media that the decision to appoint someone as the board chairman lies with Mr. Barile, the party’s newly elected chairman.
Analysts believe that if Widodo does join Golkar after he leaves office in October, the party will provide him with a platform to expand his political influence outside the presidential palace.
In the past, this advisory position was held by former Indonesian President Suharto during the New Order era until his resignation in 1998. Although Mr. Suharto was not the party’s chairman, he had absolute authority in determining Golkar’s internal party policies at the time.
Agun Bascolo, a political analyst at consultancy Trias Politika Strategis, stressed that Widodo’s potential move to join the Golkar party would help maintain his political influence and strategic negotiating position.
“Jokowi is a strong figure with a clear mass base, (and) his track record at the executive level is quite good,” Agung told CNA.
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