Former president Megawati Soekarnoputri used the 51st anniversary of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) on Wednesday to criticize unnamed leaders who she described as being “power hungry” ahead of the 2024 general election.

Speaking at the party’s official anniversary event, the PDI-P chairwoman warned party members never to use elections as a means to cling to power, a point that many observers saw as being directed at President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

Under the theme satyam eva jayate, a Sanskrit phrase meaning “truth alone prevails”, the matriarch delivered an address promoting honesty in politics.

“An election is not a tool for the elite to extend their rule by any means necessary. There are morals and ethics in elections that must be upheld,” Megawati said at the party’s education center in Lenteng Agung, South Jakarta.

“Power has its limits. It expires at some point, regardless of the position. Only God is eternal,” she said.

In the hour-long fiery speech live-streamed on YouTube, Megawati warned about people who intended to divide the nation in order to take power.

The senior politician strongly criticized those who manipulated the law for their own gain and were out of touch with the electorate.

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