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Prolonged silence on presidential nominee may hinder PDI-P in 2024
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Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the fifth PDI-P congress in Sanur, Bali in 2019. (JP/Zul Trio Anggono)
T
he Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle’s (PDI-P) intention of forging a political alliance with other parties to back one of its own members in the 2024 presidential race, may change the current coalition map, but keeping quiet for too long about its nominee might risk the party losing relevance.
Despite having the golden ticket to field a presidential candidate on its own, the PDI-P, of which President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is a member, has hinted on a possible partnership with other pro-government parties that have yet to name their candidates.
A political alliance with the country's biggest party however would come with certain caveats, PDI-P secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto said, including a precondition that the presidential candidate must come from within the PDI-P's ranks.
More talks would be held with potential coalition partners, Hasto added, suggesting that the party would consider offering options for power-sharing, such as certain positions in the Cabinet, should the potential alliance win the presidential race.
“There are many configurations of power, one of which could also be ministerial [positions],” Hasto said.
PDI-P matriarch Megawati Soekarnoputri resisted pressure to name the party’s nomination in her speech during the party’s 50th anniversary in January, stressing that as chairwoman, it was her prerogative to determine the party's presidential candidate and to stick to her own timetable.
Many analysts believe that Megawati has been struggling between naming her daughter and House of Representatives Speaker Puan Maharani, who repeatedly scores low in public opinion surveys, and Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, who tops all prospective candidates in surveys.
