REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Joko Widodo said political parties and elites need to develop ethics in practicing politics.

"For me democracy need ethics more than procedure," the president said when attending the installation of new members of the central executive board of the Bulan Bintang party here on Monday.

The president said democracy with ethics would contribute to development of the country as a state and nation.

"What is the sense of developing democracy which would end up in failure and would finally collapse as it is not rooted in the people," he said.

The statement came amid controversy over proposed draft law calling for punishment for insult of the president and vice president.

The president said past politicians among the country's founding fathers did not always share the same political views but they continued to maintain personal relations.

He cited Islamic party leader Muhammad Natsir and Catholic party leader IJ Kasimo belonged to opposing political camps but personally they remained good friends.

"I call on all leaders and members of the big family of the Bulan Bintang party to make themselves good example of civilized politicians," he said.

Yusril Ihza Mahendra, who is the founder of the party took over the leadership again from MS Kaban, who failed to help the party win a seat at the parliament in the last election. 

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