REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - A senior politician of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), Effendi Simbolon, on Saturday confidently claimed that Joko "Jokowi" Widodo would not become PDIP's leader, as predicted by some quarters.
"No, he will not (take up that post). Jokowi will only be the president (and) will let PDIP, the main supporter of his candidacy, work together with his government," he said here on Saturday.
Simbolon said although Jokowi is a PDIP cadre, he would do better if he focused on implementing his vision and mission as president. He said although PDIP has a lot of young cadre with the potential to become the party's leader, the chances of the current chairperson, Megawati Sokeqrnoputri, to become the next party's leader remain bright.
"Ibu (madame) Mega's chance to become the next leader of the party remains big," he said.
Regarding the party's congress to elect the next leader, Effendi Simbolon said a date for it was yet to be decided, and decision would follow a national meeting scheduled for the third week of September.