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PDI-P to face challenge in retaining power beyond 2024, analysts say
The dominant party might have its sights set on more than just winning the presidency, but analysts say it could find it hard to cobble together a “preelection coalition” for the next government.
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Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo (right) reaches out to shake hands with Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri on April 21 in Bogor, West Java, after Megawati announced Ganjar’s nomination as the PDI-P’s 2024 presidential candidate. (JP/PDI-P)
The ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) could face an uphill battle in stitching together a powerful “preelection coalition” to contest the 2024 presidential race in its bid to retain control in the next government, analysts have said.
Though it is the only party eligible to field a presidential candidate without forming an alliance, PDI-P matriarch Megawati Soekarnoputri has said she welcomes other pro-government parties interested in joining the ruling party and backing its presidential candidate, Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo.
"I have given some room for [any party that wants] to work with us. And so it turns out that the very first is the PPP,” Megawati told reporters on the sidelines of a seminar in Bali on Friday, referring to the Muslim-based United Development Party.
Her statement comes as other pro-government parties try to push for the creation of an alternative political bloc to potentially back Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, the Gerindra Party chair and President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s former rival.
"I have heard that some other parties have asked [or] lobbied Puan for a meeting [with the PDI-P],” Megawati continued, referring to her daughter Puan Maharani, who is also a PDI-P executive and Speaker of the House of Representatives. “I told her to go ahead and we will arranged them," she said.
She added that t he party also had to decide on its candidates for the legislative election, set to be held simultaneously with the presidential election next year. “With regard to the [presidential election], I also have a duty to find the running mate. Let me think which one should come first," Megawati said.
Airlangga Pribadi, a political science lecturer at Surabaya’s Airlangga University, said that while there was a need for the PDI-P to “widen its spectrum of support” to help Ganjar win the presidency, the country’s largest party also seemed to be considering a “post-2014 power constellation” as part of the equation.
