CHAIRMANSHIP A “STRATEGIC POSITION” ,
Al Azhar University Indonesia’s Ujang Komarudin, a political analyst, told CNA that Mr. Bahlil’s session as Golkar chair must have been approved by Mr. Widodo.  ,
” The chairman of Golkar must have a strategic position, ( Mr) Bahlil fulfills that requirement, because he is now an extension of Jokowi”, said Mr Ujang, referring to a commonly used name of Mr Widodo.  ,
He added:” In this environment, whoever the leader is, Golkar will always be under the direction of the leader. But later when Prabowo becomes leader, the Golkar chair may be close to him too” . ,
Social analyst Aditya Perdana believes that Golkar’s former chairman Airlangga Hartarto’s shock resignation was likely result of the intervention of” two powerful people”- Mr. Widodo and Mr. Prabowo- in order for them to benefit in the future.  ,
” So they need a strong ( man leading ) Golkar, a determine who can assist them in the next five years, particularly Mr Prabowo”, Mr Aditya- a social teacher with the University of Indonesia- told CNA.  ,
On August 10, Mr. Airlangga resigned from his position in the group, which was earlier predicted to be advantageous for Mr. Widodo.
Soon after Mr Airlangga’s departure, Golkar announced it would maintain a national conference to appoint a new president. The appointment was originally scheduled for December, but rather took place on August 20 and 21.
Mr Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, the group’s time chair, denied that the two-day parliament was a mere politeness to nominate Mr Bahlil as the fresh chair.  ,
” This is not a ( mere ) formality. This democratic plan needs to be put into action by the gathering. To get ready for the social plan that will come up next, especially the local elections, Mr. Agus told IDN Times.
However, political spectator Dr. Cecep Hidayat from the University of Indonesia predicted that Mr. Bahlil’s close relationships to Mr. Widodo and Mr. Prabowo will be crucial to a successful move to the upcoming government.
He thinks Mr. Bahlil might be given a higher supervisory position within Mr. Prabowo’s coming management.  ,
” Bahlil could fill a relatively higher post, such as ( that of a ) coordinating minister”, Dr Cecep told CNA.
However, Ali Mochtar Ngabalin’s statement from Golkar legislator Ali Mochtar Ngabalin on August 20 that party leaders have requested that Mr. Widodo been the chairman of Golkar’s Board of Trustees may be a sign of things to come.
In order to determine several party plans, the Board of Trustees is tasked with providing guidance and suggestions to Golkar group leaders.
Golkar people informed the local media that Mr. Bahlil, the group’s newly-elected president, is in charge of appointing somebody as chair of its Board of Trustees.  ,
And if Mr. Widodo does indeed resign from office in October, according to analysts, the party may give him a platform to expand his social influence outside of the Palace.  ,
Previous Indonesian President Soeharto served in this advisory capacity up until he resigned in 1998. And Mr. Soeharto had complete control over setting Golkar’s party policy at the time, even though he was n’t the party chair.
A potential shift by Mr. Widodo to add Golkar will help keep his political strength and proper negotiations positions intact, according to Mr. Agung Baskoro, a political researcher at the consulting firm Trias Politika Strategis.  ,
” Jokowi is a strong figure, has a clear mass base, ( and ) his track record is quite good at the executive level”, Mr Agung told CNA.