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As Megawati turns 77, she should allow for a change of guard in PDI-P
The party's first and only chairperson was once a force for change against the backdrop of Soeharto's New Order regime, but like the former strongman, has she overstayed her welcome as the country heads to an election that hinges on young, first-time voters?
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Megawati Soekarnoputri (second right), chairwoman of the Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) shares a moment with President Joko “Jokowi“ Widodo (left) on Sept. 29, 2023 during the party's national congress in Jakarta, as presumptive nominee Ganjar Pranowo looks on. (Reuters/Willy Kurniawan)
This month, Megawati Soekarnoputri will mark two important events: the 51st anniversary of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and her 77th birthday. These two occasions could be used by party members as well as the general public to start a conversation on the issue of succession.
I predicted previously that Megawati would prefer President Joko “Jokowi” to take over the party leadership, but that seems impossible now. Yet it also means that Megawati could settle for the next best candidate to succeed her: presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo, who can work alongside her daughter Puan Maharani and her son Prananda Prabowo as the party's top executives.
If Megawati could take that decision soon enough, it could help the party’s standing ahead of the Feb. 14 election.
In taking that decision, the PDI-P matron could calm the party’s internal situation at the grassroots level as well as regain people’s trust, especially young voters who are put off by the party's gerontocracy.
After all, the PDI-P stands a decent chance of losing to Prabowo Subianto’s Gerindra Party. If the opinion surveys are correct, the defense minister is expected to defeat Ganjar hands down.
At the same time, Megawati now has to deal with President Jokowi as an adversary after he decided to allow his son Gibran Rakabuming Raka to run as Prabowo’s vice president.
This was a severe about-face, as Megawati once considered Jokowi as her successor.
