Former president Megawati Soekarnoputri, eldest daughter of founding president Sukarno, introduced Monday her children and a niece to the public, raising speculation about possible succession plans.
The joint appearance the day before the opening of the congress of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), which she leads, also helped dispel rumors of political infighting in the family.
Accompanied by her husband Taufik Kiemas, also a party patron, and secretary-general Pramono Anung Wibowo, Megawati introduced to the press her son Prananda Prabowo, daughter Puan Maharani and her niece, Puti Guntur Soekarnoputra.
Prananda who has been active in the party but hardly ever appears in public, is Megawati’s son from her first marriage with Surindo Suprojarso, an Air Force pilot who died in Papua.
Puan, a PDI-P legislator in the House of Representatives is Megawati’s daughter from her marriage with Taufik, also the Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly. Puti, also a PDI-P legislator, is a daughter of her brother Guntur Soekarnoputri.
Another family member who also indicated interest to run for the party leadership is Guruh Soekarnoputra, her younger brother, who did not join the family press conference.
“Whether [the above three] will be included in the party’s next executive board will wholly depend on the congress, the highest decision-making institution in the party,” Megawati said when asked whether the party’s leadership would be in their hands.
Megawati also added she did not know whether the position of a deputy chairperson would be included in the party’s next executive board.
The new position is said to be in preparation to groom a future successor to Megawati, who has chaired the party since 1998.
Megawati and Taufik criticized the press who they said had attempted to create conflict between Puan and Prananda in connection with the regeneration of the party.
She said that the participation of Prananda, Puan and Puti in the party showed regeneration was taking place within the party.
Prananda and Puan declined to comment to the press.
Opening a photo exhibition following the press conference, Puan, who was appointed by Megawati to chair the congress’ organizing committee, explained why the congress was being held in Bali.
She said the venue was chosen not only because the mother of Sukarno, Ida Ayu Nyoman Rai, was Balinese and had her home village in Singaraja, but because the Balinese “had played a decisive role” when the party was struggling in the past.
“During my childhood, my mother frequently took me to visit this island and we had never stayed in hotels like this but in ordinary houses belonging to Balinese figures who had been behind the party’s struggle ... especially during the New Order era,” she said.
Sukarno is considered to be the party’s founder.
