Golkar Party General Chairman Bahlil Lahadalia finally attended and opened the Regional Conference XI DPD I Golkar Party South Sulawesi which was previously postponed, in Makassar, South Sulawesi.
"The Musda is the highest decision-making forum at the regional level. The Musda will produce three major decisions: evaluating the leadership, formulating work programs and recommendations, and electing the Golkar Party Regional Leadership Council (DPD) chairman," he said before a crowd of thousands of Golkar Party members.
He emphasized that consolidation is the main key to restoring the glory of the Golkar Party in South Sulawesi.
This is because the Golkar Party's former dominance in South Sulawesi, as its main vote bank in Eastern Indonesia, was eroded by other parties in the 2024 elections.
Therefore, he requested that the newly formed management immediately move to complete the Branch Conference at the DPD II district/city level and continue consolidation down to the sub-district, village and urban village levels.
"I request that after the Musda is completed, a Muscab (Regency/City Muscab) be held. This will be followed by a Muscab at the sub-district and village levels. Because our party's strength lies there. When we talk about the Golkar Party in the eastern region, the key point is South Sulawesi. South Sulawesi has always been a model for the Golkar Party's success in the eastern region," he explained.
Bahlil Lahadalia, who is also the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, touched on the granting of discretionary rights to the candidate for Chairman of the Golkar DPD I South Sulawesi, Ilham Arief Sirajuddin, familiarly known as Aco, to advance, stating that the granting of special rights is the prerogative of the Golkar General Chairman, which is regulated in party regulations.
"Many people have told me that Mr. Aco has changed parties. The Golkar Party is a mature party, one that adheres to proper etiquette, mechanisms, and party rules. If you feel that you're not quite right, even if you've moved, checked with other parties, but it doesn't feel right, you might come back. We'll keep the door open. It's no problem," he said.
According to him, granting discretion to Ilham, even though he had left the party and returned, is very possible under party regulations because it is regulated in the AD/ART and there are inherent rights of the General Chairperson,
including assessing Ilham's sincerity in restoring the glory of the Golkar Party.
"His departure was a common political dynamic. If he wanted to return, there were rules that made it possible. This rule is called discretion, and it's justified in the Articles of Association, which is the prerogative of the chairman. So, Mr. Aco (moved) away, maybe to look around, maybe to get some fresh air, that's fine," he said.
