Jakarta (beritajatim.id) – Former West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil commented that Airlangga Hartarto’s resignation as Chairman of the Golkar Party is a natural occurrence within party dynamics. As a Golkar cadre, Kamil emphasized that there was no external pressure behind Airlangga’s decision.
“There was no pressure. I followed the news as the media did. As Pak Airlangga mentioned, this is just a common and routine dynamic within the party,” Ridwan Kamil stated after attending a groundbreaking ceremony in the Nusantara Capital (IKN), East Kalimantan, on Monday, August 12, 2024.
He also confirmed that Airlangga’s resignation has nothing to do with his candidacy in the upcoming Jakarta Regional Election.
“Definitely not,” he asserted. Kamil also responded to Jusuf Hamka’s resignation from the Golkar Party Advisory Board, stating that such personal decisions do not affect the party’s broader strategy.
“It’s a personal resignation. Hundreds of decisions have been made organizationally. We are a large party and do not rely on 1-2 individuals,” Ridwan Kamil explained.
In response to Airlangga’s resignation, former Golkar politician and businessman Jusuf Hamka highlighted Golkar’s achievements under Airlangga’s leadership.
“Golkar’s voice is at its prime under Pak Airlangga, with a 20% increase from 85 to 102 seats. This must be acknowledged,” Jusuf Hamka, also known as Babah Alun, said at Golkar’s DPP office in Slipi, West Jakarta, on Monday, August 12, 2024.
Babah Alun noted that this achievement is the highest since Golkar’s reform era, attributing it to Airlangga’s strong leadership. Under his tenure, Golkar members remained united, leading to the successful election of Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka as President and Vice President.
Despite these successes, Airlangga chose to step down. Babah Alun speculated that external factors might have influenced his decision. “Even if it was his personal decision, I doubt it,” Babah Alun concluded. (hdl)