"The PDI-P can [nominate its presidential candidate without forming an alliance], but we have been the one who always speaks about building the nation by working together, which means the PDI-P does not want to go at it alone, we will work with [other parties],” Said Abdullah, PDI-P central board executive, to reporters on Tuesday.

The party clarified its position amid speculations that it is planning to go it alone in the 2024 presidential race due to its alleged conflict with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in the wake of the removal of Indonesia as host of the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which was mainly attributed to the party’s refusal to let the Israeli team play in the tournament.  

Speculations intensified when the PDI-P elites were conspicuously absent during Sunday’s iftar gathering of pro-government parties’ leaders with the President. 

PDI-P officials were quick to clarify that the party received the invitation but was unable to attend because Megawati was on a trip to Japan and she could not be represented by other party members due to a conflicting schedule.

“I accepted the invitation myself […] It's not that we weren't invited, and it's not that we didn't want to attend. We were unable to come at the time,” PDI-P executive Puan Maharani told reporters on Tuesday.

"If there is an opportunity for the PDI-P or Ibu Mega to be the host of such an event, we will go for it," Puan said.

Puan has been assigned to intensify talks with leaders of other parties to see if they share similar ideological vision and policies before they can form an alliance, according to Said.

“The public must be presented with the substance and vision of this so-called grand alliance. How will it continue Jokowi’s legacy? What are the possible future threats? How will geopolitical challenges affect it?” he said.

“Having a grand alliance won't necessarily guarantee victory.”

Indonesian Survey Institute executive director Djayadi Hanan said whether or not the PDI-P would join the grand coalition of pro-Jokowi government parties for the upcoming elections would hinge on the agreement over the presidential and vice presidential candidates.

“There is still a possibility that the PDI-P will join the KIB-KKIR grand alliance, only if Jokowi can bridge the difference between the PDI-P and other parties. He can only do that if Megawati is not upset by Jokowi’s recent maneuvers for not toeing the party’s line on the Israel matter,” Djayadi told The Jakarta Post.

Alternatively, the PDI-P could emerge as the third breakaway group from the current alliance as it does not need support from other parties to nominate its presidential candidate next year based on the House of Representatives’ seat threshold.

However, it is unlikely that the PDI-P will go it alone, Djayadi said. “The PDI-P may forge an alliance with non-parliamentary parties that have shown interest to be its partners, such as the Crescent Star Party (PBB) chair Yusril Ihza Mahendra,” he said.

Such a move, he explained, might come with a risk of having split the vote among Jokowi’s supporters in the party. “The main voter of the PDI-P for the last 10 years has largely been Jokowi supporters,” he said. “If Jokowi is not in the same camp with the PDI-P in the 2024 presidential election, his supporters who previously voted for the PDI-P might shift their support to the grand alliance, which can be interpreted as being backed by Jokowi.”

The prospect of stitching a big-tent alliance of the KIB and the KKIR has already drawn in some non-parliamentary parties that have been supporting Jokowi.

The Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), which has thrown its support behind Ganjar to contest in the upcoming presidential race, announced on Wednesday that the party would join the grand pro-Jokowi government alliance as they shared the same vision to maintain the continuity of Jokowi’s legacy.

"The [formation] process is still underway, but we want to ensure that the PSI will forge an alliance with those who have the same vision as Pak Jokowi," Grace said.

United Indonesia Party (Perindo) leader Harry Tanoedibjo visited on Tuesday Gerindra Party leader Prabowo Subianto, who both welcomed the idea of Perindo joining the grand alliance. (ahw)

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