Indonesia president's aide named brain of opposition party, but turmoil ensues

A high aide of Indonesian President Joko Widodo was named chairman of an opposition get together on Friday (Mar 5), in a approach that could broaden the president's coalition and tighten his grasp on parliament, although legitimacy of the maneuver was challenged by different party members.

Moeldoko, the president's chief of staff, was named due to chairman of the Democratic Get together in an extraordinary congress found in North Sumatra province, according to live reports simply by broadcasters.

The coalition of Jokowi, as the president is popularly known, already controls 74 per cent of the 575 parliamentary seats in Southeast Asia's largest economy, and the support of the Democratic Party would give him nine 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 latest leaders who could run for the presidency in 2024, according to surveys by private pollsters.

"The extraordinary, illegitimate and unconstitutional congress was held by several members, former users, who conspired with external actors," he said.

Agus urged Jokowi never to certify Moeldoko's appointment and said he would file a complaint to police agencies.

The government is likely to confirm which party head will be recognised by the state.

However, some analysts stated Jokowi stands to get from having his senior personnel leading the party.

"With Moeldoko in the Democratic Party, the federal government will become stronger and this is not just a matter of 2024, but today ... With this, the federal government will be extremely absolve to design policies related to politics and power," explained Hendri Satrio, a political analyst at Paramadina University, though he added that he cannot be certain which person's claim to leadership was genuine.

The Democratic Get together was among the minority parties that sought to block Jokowi's flagship Task Creation Law this past year.