Megawati Soekarnoputri officially won the re-election as the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chief Thursday, but fell short of party promises to promote young figures to the second highest post.

Instead, Megawati, who will lead the party for the third successive five-year term, handpicked seasoned politician Tjahjo Kumolo as the party’s secretary-general, replacing Pramono Anung who now holds no structural position.

Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI) political analyst Burhanuddin Muhtadi told The Jakarta Post that Megawati’s decision to appoint a senior figure as her closest aide could cost the party dearly in the 2014 general elections.

“The party veterans were blamed for the party’s poor showing in the last two elections. In the context of the PDI-P’s internal affairs, the failure to appoint a new face for the second highest post will be perceived as an inability by the party to develop new leaders,” he said.

“The decision is bad advertising for stakeholders outside the party, and this could lead to a further decline in the party’s popularity.”

Hopes were high prior to the formation of the new central executive board that young figures such as Maruarar Sirait and Ganjar Pranowo would be given keys to the party’s inner circle.  

Burhanuddin said he had expected Maruarar to be appointed secretary-general, which he said would make a difference.

“Maruarar is from Sumatra, where he could be a potential vote getter. The PDI-P has traditionally fared poorly in Sumatra,” he said. Taufik Kiemas, Megawati’s husband, People’s Consultative Assembly speaker and the PDI-P chief patron, is from South Sumatra.

Yunarto Wijaya from political research institute Charta Politika said the PDI-P should have demonstrated a more serious commitment to its agenda of growing new leaders, which he said would support its bid to play an opposition role.

“The growing public distrust in the PDI-P is mainly caused by Megawati who persistently refuses to acknowledge her declining popularity,” he said.

“The PDI-P should have encouraged new people to take a leading role because they will bring new hope to the people.”

Research Institute of Democracy and Welfare State chief Fadjroel Rahman said young blood was key to maintaining the party’s check and balances role in the opposition.

“The opposition needs a strong ideology and must not be trapped by pragmatism. Growth of new leaders will save the party, because it will breed young leaders with fresh ideas and skills. The PDI-P will crumble because it rejects this concept,” he said.

Fadjroel said Tjahjo’s appointment would plunge the party deeper into pragmatism due to his being implicated in an alleged bribery case in the election of Miranda Goeltom as Bank Indonesia senior deputy governor in 2004.

PDI-P senior politician Panda Nababan, however, said growth of new members was taking place in the party.  

“Only seven of the 20 executives in the central board are old faces. Our new structure is promising,” he said.

Central executive board of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle

Post                                                  Name
Chairwoman    :    Megawati Soekarnoputri
Secretary general    :    Tjahjo Kumolo
Deputy secretary general for internal affairs     :    Erico S
Deputy secretary general for programs             :    Ahmad Basara
Deputy secretary general for secretariat          :    Hasto Kristianto
Treasurer                                         :    Oli Dondokambey
Deputy treasurer for internal affairs             :    Rudiyanto Tjen
Deputy treasurer for programs                     :    Juliari Batubara
Honors board chief                                :    Sidharto Danusubroto

Departments
Politics and inter-institutional relations        :    Puan Maharani
Membership, training and recruitment              :    Idam Samawi
Organizational affairs                            :    Djarot Syaeful Hidayat
Information and communication    :    Rano Karno
Resources and funding                             :    Effendi Simbolon
Agriculture, fishery and maritime                 :    Mindo Sianipar
Health and labor                                  :    Ribka Tjiptaning
Education, religion and culture                   :    Hamka Haq
Industry and trade                                :    Nusyrwan Sujono
Women’s affairs                                   :    Irianti Sukamdani
Youth and sports affairs                          :    Maruarar Sirait
Transportation                                    :    Made Urip
Energy                                            :    Bambang Wuryanto
Forestry and plantation                           :    Mohammad Prakosa
Finance and banking                               :    Emir Moeis
Law and human rights                              :    Trimedya Panjaitan
Defense and security                              :    Andreas Pareira
Governance and regional autonomy                  :    Komarudin Watubun

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