Indonesia's Golkar chooses leader

By Rachel Harvey
BBC News, Jakarta

Mr Kalla is now an immensely influential deputy to the president

The vice-president of Indonesia has been elected leader of the most powerful political party in the country, Golkar.

Jusuf Kalla comfortably beat the incumbent Akbar Tandjung.

Under the leadership of Mr Tandjung, Golkar had positioned itself as a party of opposition.

But with Mr Kalla now in charge, Golkar - the largest party in Indonesia's fractious parliament - could swing towards the government.

Pragmatism

The result appears to resolve a power struggle that began when Mr Kalla decided to run for vice-president against the official Golkar party ticket.

Mr Kalla, a senior figure within Golkar, was at the time accused of disloyalty by some party members.

But now it seems political pragmatism has won the day.

In one sense, the result is good news for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, as it should make it much easier for the government to push through its agenda.

But Mr Kalla's victory also means the president has an immensely influential deputy.

The question now is how Mr Kalla will use his new-found power.