CONFRONTED by a sharp decline in the Democrat Party\'s popularity ratings barely a year before the 2014 legislative and presidential elections, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in his capacity as chairman of the party\'s High Council, took over power from chairman Anas Urbaningrum, who has been dogged by suspicions of corruption charges in the Hambalang scandal. Announcing his determination to sweep the party of unclean elements, Yudhoyono\'s move has predictably led to ominous divided loyalties within the party that won the 2009 elections with 20.9 percent share of the votes. Can the Democrats surmount their problems to regain their electability in time for next year\'s polls? Tempo reports on the politicking behind the Democrat Party, including an interview with SBY, the party founder and leader.

Keywords :
Democrat Party ,