Megawati’s victory confirmed early: PDI-P

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) confirmed Saturday that the party leadership post for the next five years would go for incumbent Megawati Soekarnoputri, who has gained support from most of the party’s regional branches nationwide.

PDI-P’s leadership position will be decided during the upcoming national congress in Bali on Apr 6-9. Names of candidates for the top post had been proposed by 33 provincial branches since several weeks ago.

The party’s deputy chairwoman and Megawati’s daughter Puan Maharani told a press conference here that 99 percent of the branches still wanted Megawati to resume her leadership.

“It [proposals from the regional branches] converges to only one name, Megawati. There will be no chance for other candidates,” Puan said, adding that the congress would also decide whether the party would need a deputy chairperson, a new post in the party, for the sake of regeneration.

With Megawati’s win has been certain, there will be no chance for her brother Guruh Soekarnoputra, who also makes a bid for the top post.

Puan said that congress participants would also discuss on whether to consolidate with the ruling coalition or remain in the opposition. Some elites in the party have called for alliance with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party.  

“We will make our political stance clear in the congress,” she said.