JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – Gede Pasek Suardika, a loyalist of the ousted Chairman of Democratic Party Anas Urbaningrum, told Kompas.com that he’s ready to challenge former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) in the Democratic Party’s chairmanship congress scheduled in May 2015.

Pasek, moreover, reminded SBY and his party’s colleagues in the Democratic Party about SBY’s promise during the party’s extraordinary congress (KLB) in Bali back in March 2013. According to Pasek, SBY made a promise to serve as party chairman until the party hold its chairmanship congress in 2015.

“If he (SBY) wanted to run (for the chairmanship position of Democratic Party), it’s alright. But, it means he denies his own promise,” said Pasek.

Gede Pasek Suardika currently serves as member of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) for the period of 2014-2015. The Democratic Party politician also serves as Secretary General of the Indonesian Movement Organization (PPI), a mass organization founded by Anas Urbaningrum.

As reported earlier, several key leaders of the Democratic Party have expressed their supports to SBY to be re-elected in the upcoming party’s chairmanship congress. Daily Executive Chairman of Democratic Party Syarief Hasan, for example, shared his belief that SBY will be re-elected with an acclamation. (haryantosuharman@yosefardi.com)