KONTAN.CO.ID - JAKARTA. A top aide of Indonesian President Joko Widodo was named chairman of an opposition party on Friday, in a move that could broaden the president's coalition and tighten his grip on parliament - although the legitimacy of the move was challenged by other party members. Moeldoko, the president's chief of staff, was named as chairman of the Democratic Party in an extraordinary congress in North Sumatra province, according to live reports by broadcasters. The coalition of Jokowi, as the president is popularly known, already controls 74% of the 575 parliamentary seats in Southeast Asia's largest economy, and the support of the Democratic Party would give him 9 percentage points more.
But Moeldoko's appointment was challenged by Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, who at a news conference late on Friday said he remained the party's chairman. Agus, the son of Jokowi's predecessor Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, is one of a crop of new leaders who could run for the presidency in 2024, according to surveys by private pollsters. Baca Juga: Japan extends Covid-19 state of emergency in Tokyo area, PM apologises "The extraordinary, illegal and unconstitutional congress was held by a number of members, former members, who conspired with external actors," he said. Agus urged Jokowi not to certify Moeldoko's appointment and said he would file a complaint to law enforcement agencies.