REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Former Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, as the general chairman of the Democratic Party, inaugurated the new members of its Supreme Council, Supervisory Council and Executive Board on Saturday.

"I hereby declare you official members of the Central Executive Board of the Democratic Party for the 2015-2020 term," Yudhoyono, who is also known as SBY, said at the inauguration ceremony.

As one of the founders of the party, he urged the new board members to engage in ethical politics.

"Conducting good political practices does not mean damaging democracy, abusing power, breaking rules, and harassing other political parties," he remarked.

SBY also called on the Democratic Party to continue to monitor activities to ensure that laws in the country are enforced fairly.

He also urged party cadres to be united and not be easily divided by those who do not appreciate the party's success.

In addition, the new board members should carry out the party's mandate responsibly and uphold the trust bestowed upon them for the sake of people's interests, he emphasized.

"Do your best so the party can become one that really fights for people's interests," the former president noted.

Several figures were inaugurated at the ceremony. Among them, former justice minister Amir Syamsuddin was inducted as the chairman of the Supreme Council; E. E. Mangindaan, also a former minister, was installed as the deputy chairman of the Supreme Council; Hinca Pandjaitan was inaugurated as the secretary general; and Edhy Baskoro Yudhoyono, SBY's son, was inducted as the chairman of the Elections Success Commission.

The ceremony was followed by a national leadership meeting, during which preparations made by the party for the simultaneous regional head elections, which will be held on December 9, were discussed.

Moreover, the Democratic Party will discuss names to be nominated to run for local leadership positions in the polls, on Sunday.

The Democratic Party supported SBY as the president of Indonesia for two terms. However, the party lost in the last general elections in 2014, having finished fourth after the PDIP, the Golkar Party, and the Gerindra Party.

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