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View all search resultsMegawati speech centers women, her own success
Remarks hint at PDI-P chair’s 2024 preference, party’s future: Experts.
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M
egawati Soekarnoputri, chairwoman of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), has cast herself as a “future leader” this week and stressed that women could achieve great things if given the same opportunities as men, in what analysts consider a sales pitch to support the party’s heir apparent Puan Maharani.
The 75-year-old matriarch was boastful of her success as the nation’s first woman to become president at the party’s golden jubilee on Tuesday, where she spoke intimately with thousands of fellow cadres after three years of rare public appearances due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Known for peppering her comments with Javanese quips and jokes, 2023’s political importance was not lost on her.
“I encountered a question: what kind of future leader do you expect? ‘Oh,’ I said, ‘don’t you see me? I’m right here,’” Megawati said in her speech, referring to herself as a prime example of a 2024 presidential election candidate.
“Don’t you know that your Ibu is smart, beautiful, charismatic, a fighter? What else do you need?”
Defying expectations that she would announce PDI-P’s choice of presidential candidate, the party chairwoman teased those who expected her to reveal the nominee.
“Not even your applause can persuade me to announce it,” she said to a roaring applause. “It’s my prerogative!”
