REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The two rival camps of the Golkar Party signed a deal here on Saturday to contest the regional elections at the end of the year.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla, who is a former general chairman of the Golkar Party, witnessed the event held in the backyard of his official residence.

Among the numerous figures from both camps seen at the event were Ade Komaruddin, Yorrys Raweyai, Priyo Budi Santoso and Theo Sambuaga.

The general chairman of the Golkar Party elected in the Bali congress, Aburizal Bakrie (Ical), said earlier that reconciliation among opposing leaders of the party will be focused on allowing the party to participate in the election of regional leaders (Pilkada).

The Golkar leadership was divided into two, with incumbent Ical holding a national congress in Bali and a rival group under Agung Laksono holding a congress in Ancol, Jakarta, later.

The Ministry of Justice and Human Right recognized Lakosno's party that supports the government, while Ical's Golkar was declared an opposition party.

However, the decision triggered a sharper conflict within the party, and the case was taken to court and subsequently won by Ical's group.

In addition, the dispute did not end with the decision of the state administrative court as the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights and Laksono's camp took the case to a higher court, which will come to a final decision well after the regional elections commence in December.

After the state administrative court announced its decision last week, Ical met with Vice President Jusuf Kalla, who was a general chairman of the party, as an attempt to seek reconciliation.

Kalla stated that he agreed to play the role of a mediator and end the rivalry that could result in the party, which has the second largest number of seats in the parliament, missing the upcoming Pilkada.

Ical noted that with this reconciliation, he hoped to agree with Laksono on candidates acceptable to both sides to contest the elections for provincial governors and district leaders.

Moreover, the General Election Committee (KPU) opined that it will comply with the regulation that only the political party recognized by the government will be allowed to take part in the election.

The decision of the state administrative court is not final with the appeal sought by Laksono and the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights.

However, the KPU may not maintain its position against the court's decision to accept candidates only from Laksono's camp.

It had indicated that the Golkar Party could forego the upcoming Pilkada if the opposing groups failed to reconcile.

Furthermore, Ical suggested that hopefuls start registering at the KPU in their respective regions or districts, after which the final candidates will be selected by the central executive board of the party.

"What is important is that they register themselves to be ready for the Pilkada," he pointed out, adding, "Hopefuls can start registering now."

According to Idrus Marham, the secretary general of the party under Ical, the Golkar Party will take part in the upcoming Pilkada "as both sides share the commitment of being handled by a team."

When asked about which of the rival leaders would sign the list of candidates to contest the elections, Marham remarked, "Everything will be sorted out at the Golkar Party's office."

Separately, Kalla said on Saturday that he would meet with Laksono and Ical to discuss the technicalities of reconciliation.

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