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PDI-P flexes political muscle, takes aim at potential rivals
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Up close and personal: President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo (left) speaks with Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Sukarnoputri (center) as the party’s presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo looks on during the PDI-P national meeting in Jakarta on June 6, 2023. (Antara/Akbar Nugroho Gumay)
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) made a show of unity and electoral confidence at a grand party event over the weekend, saying it was ready to face off against potential challengers, including the rival Gerindra Party-led alliance.
PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri called on the party’s members and supporters to rally behind its presidential nominee, Ganjar Pranowo, at a party event at the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) stadium on Saturday. Several leaders of other pro-government parties were in attendance.
The event, held to mark the peak of the “Month of Bung Karno” – or Sukarno, the country’s founding father who was born on June 6, 1901 – doubled as a show of force from the ruling party.
Among the political bigwigs at the event were Golkar Party chairman Airlangga Hartarto and National Mandate Party (PAN) chairman Zulkifli Hasan, who have yet to decide whether to join the PDI-P’s alliance or the other two major alliances, one led by the NasDem Party, the other by the Gerindra Party. The leaders of Gerindra and NasDem, Prabowo Subianto and Surya Paloh respectively, were absent from the GBK event.
National Awakening Party (PKB) deputy chairman Jazilul Fawaid was also among the attendees, even though his party has already formed an alliance with Gerindra, the PDI-P’s opponent in the last two presidential elections.
Friend or foe?
