PPP Holds Leadership Meeting Without Chairman

Jakarta (Antara) - The United Development Party (PPP) held a leadership meeting here on Saturday night without their general chairman, Suryadharma Ali (SDA), after SDA reportedly forming a coalition with the Great Indonesian Movement Party (Gerindra). With the absence of SDA, the PPP's national leadership meeting was then opened by its deputy chairman, Emron Pangkapi. According to Emron, it was PPP's first leadership meeting after the legislative elections, which took place on April 9, 2014. "This is the first national leadership meeting held after the April 9 legislative election. It is a very strategic leadership meeting in our political party's affairs following the party's internal dynamic problem," he said. The leadership meeting was held to consider very strategic matters, he said, adding that the leadership meeting was expected to strengthen the party's solidarity in facing future political agendas. Meanwhile on Friday (April 18), the PPP's general chairman, Suryadharmah Ali, said the PPP Executive Board (DPP PPP) had agreed to coalesce with the Great Indonesian Movement Party (Gerindra). However, SDA said no political agreement had been signed to finalize the coalition plan. Some of PPP's leaders still questioned SDA's reported merging with Gerindra. Indonesia will hold presidential elections on July 9, 2014. (*)