JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – The National Democrat Party (Nasdem) led by media mogul Surya Paloh has dismissed General (ret) Endriartono Sutarto from his position as Chairman of Nasdem’s Advisory Council and as member of the party due to Endriartono’s decision to join the President SBY’s Democratic Party primary.
Patrice Rio Capela, Secretary General of Nasdem Party, however, said that his party has yet to appoint new Chairman of Nasdem’s Advisory Council replacing Endriartono.
“Nasdem Party actually doesn’t close the possibility to endorse him (Endriartono Sutarto) as president candidate. But not now, because the decision to endorse a president candidate will be taken after the legislative election (in 2014) with the requirement that Nasdem joins in the big three. However, it seems he is not patient,” said Patrice.
Endriartono, meanwhile, stated that he can accept Nasdem’s decision for dismissing him. The former Military Commander said he has sent a letter to the party about his willing to join the Democratic Party primary.
Endriartono, actually, has just joined Nasdem Party since October 1st, 2012.
Endriartono, in the upcoming Democratic Party’s primary, will likely compete with several rivals. The Committee of the Democratic Party’s primary has recommended nine names to be invited to join the primary.
They are Joko ‘ Jokowi’ Widodo, popular Jakarta Governor and PDI-P politician; Jusuf Kalla, former Vice President and Golkar politician; Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Managing Director of World Bank and former Minister of Finance; Rustriningsih, former Vice Governor of Central Java and PDI-P politician; Tri Rismaharini, Surabaya Mayor and PDI-P politician; Ali Masykur Musa; member of the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) and former PKB politician; Jumhur Hidayat, Head of the Agency for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (BNP2TKI); Rusdi Kirana, owner of Lion Air; and Herry Zudianto, Yogyakarta Mayor.
The Democratic Party’s High Council led by President SBY, meanwhile, has reportedly recommended several other names to be invited to join the primary.
They are Marzuki Alie, House Speaker and Democratic Party politician; Mahfud MD, former Chief of Constitutional Court; Gita Wirjawan, Minister of Trade; General (ret) Pramono Edhie Wibowo, brother in law of President SBY and Democratic Party politician; General (ret) Djoko Santoso, former Military Commander; Chairul Tanjung, businessman and owner of CT Corp; Dahlan Iskan, Minister of SOEs; Irman Gusman, Speaker of Regional Representatives Council (DPD); Dino Patti Jalal, Ambassador to US; Anies Bswedan, Rector of Paramadina University; Sinyo Sarundayang, North Sulawesi Governor and Democratic Party politician; Hayono Isman, Democratic Party politician; Marwah Daud Ibrahim, Chairman of the Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals Association (ICMI) and former Golkar senior politician; Achmad Mubarok, Democratic Party politician; and Isran Noor, Democratic Party politician and former East Kutai Regent. (haryantos@yosefardi.biz)