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Analysis: Estranged Megawati can undermine Jokowi’s last year in office
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Megawati Soekarnoputri (center), chairwoman of the Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), and President Joko “Jokowi“ Widodo (left) share a moment on Sept. 29, 2023, as PDI-P presumptive presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo looks on, during the party's national meeting in Jakarta.( (Reuters/Willy Kurniawan)
T
he increasingly estranged relationship between President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the largest party in his coalition government, in the run up to the February general election will likely undermine the way he governs the country for the remaining 11 months of his term.
PDI-P matron Megawati Soekarnoputri has refrained from making public comments about her deteriorating relationship with Jokowi, but her feelings are clearly reflected by high-ranking party officials who have expressed anger at being betrayed and abandoned by the man who won both presidential elections in 2014 and 2019 on the party’s ticket. But as a reflection of how Jokowi holds sway over Megawati in this broken partnership, the criticisms from party members have been targeted at his clan members, rather than directly at him.
Jokowi maneuvered to get his eldest son 36-year-old Gibran Rakabuming Raka to run as running mate to presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, defense minister and chair of the Gerindra Party, which is also a member of the coalition government. This puts Jokowi in the coming presidential elections at odds with the PDI-P, which has nominated former Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo for president.
Jokowi and Gibran are both card-carrying members of the PDI-P. Amid growing demands from angry members for the PDI-P leadership to expel him, Gibran returned his PDI-P card last week and quickly joined the Golkar Party, which also supports Prabowo’s nomination.
PDI-P members have also demanded Jokowi’s son-in-law, Bobby Nasution, who is mayor of the North Sumatra city of Medan, return his membership card after he openly declared his support for Prabowo.
So far, no one has openly called for Jokowi’s expulsion. He has not publicly declared who he will support in the election but it is clear that he is drifting away from the PDI-P. His youngest son 28-year-old Kaesang Pangarep last month maneuvered to get the chairmanship of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) only two days after joining. The PSI, which sees itself as the party of millennials, has also endorsed the Prabowo-Gibran ticket.
As reward for giving Jokowi the presidential ticket in the last two elections, Megawati has some power and influence in the government, including in the appointment of strategic cabinet and non-cabinet posts. Megawati also chairs the steering committees of the Agency for the Implementation of Pancasila Ideology and National Research and Innovation Agency.
