RULING DEMOCRATIC PARTY MUST REMAIN SOLID

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Feb 24 (Antara) - Anas Urbaningrum's resignation as general chairman of the Democratic Party (PD) after his naming as a suspect in a sports complex development scandal will not affect the ruling party's electability if it remains solid.          "I think it will not degrade its reputation if the Democratic Party carries out immediate internal consolidation," political communication expert Bachtiar Aly of the University of Indonesia said.          The alleged graft case that implicated Anas will serve as a political lesson for all party cadres. If all cadres are able to consolidate, remain solid and restrain from giving unnecessary response, it would not reduce its electability in the face of the 2014 general elections.          "They key lies on the Democratic Party itself whether it is able to remain solid and consolidate. It should not either politicize all things," Bachtiar said.

DEMOCRATIC PARTY DISCUSSES NO OUSTER OF ANAS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Feb 17 (Antara) - The Leadership Meeting of the ruling Democratic Party (PD) ended on Sunday without a surprise decision as many quarters have previously speculated, namely the ouster of the party's general chairman Anas Urganingrum.          "What I am saying now probably disappoint those who are probably waiting for a big news from the national leadership meeting," Chairman of PD's Supreme Council Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono told a press conference after the meeting here on Sunday.          In his capacity as chairman of the  PD's Supreme Council,  Yudhoyono said that the party's national leadership meeting did not make a surprising decision as many has expected.          An observer has earlier said Anas Urbaningrum's future as chief of the ruling Democrat Party could be determined at the party's national leadership meeting  in the Sunday Caucus.          "I think Anas Urbaningrum's future would become the top issue to be discussed at the meeting tomorrow," observer Hanta Yudha said at a discussion on "Polemic: Democrat Tsunami" on Saturday.          Speculations of forthcoming ouster of Anas surfaced following a statement by Yudhoyono, who is also the party's chief patron, that he would take reins of the party, while Anas could focus on facing his legal matters linked to the Hambalang sports center construction scandal.          Yudhoyono recently said in a press conference that he would assume leadership of the Democratic Party, asking Anas to concentrate on his legal standing amid graft allegations and ongoing corruption probes to which he has been linked.