JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – The two warring factions of the United Development Party (PPP) have not yet reconciled, extending the internal conflict within the eldest Islamic party in the country.
PPP Chairman Suryadharma Ali stated on Wednesday (Oct. 15) that the party’s national congress (muktamar) in Surabaya, East Java, organized by PPP Secretary General Romahurmuziy, is illegal.
Suryadharma, who is now a graft convict, then ordered the party’s cadres to not attend the congress.
Suryadharma has earlier canceled another PPP’s national congress organized by his party and supporters following an order from the party’s highest council. This national congress initially scheduled to be held in Jakarta.
The internal conflict within the PPP emerged since early this year. This conflict is also triggered by dualism of affiliation to the Red-and-White coalition of losing president candidate Prabowo Subianto and the ruling coalition of President-elect Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. (haryantos@yosefardi.biz)