Asia-Pacific Newsweek
December 23, 2024
jakarta – Tensions between Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairperson Mekawati Soekarnoputri and Joko Widodo appear to have reached new heights, with her supporters Accused him of trying to split and take over the party.
The feud between Jokowi and the People's Democratic Party came to a head last week when Megawati formally expelled the former president, along with his son, Vice President Jibulan Raqabmin Raqqa, and son-in-law Medan Mayor Bobby Nasution for speaking out against the party in the election.
The rivalry between Jokowi and Megawati soon entered a new chapter, with PDI-P executive Deddy Yevri Sitorus claiming the former president was trying to He will take over the reins of the party from Megawati in the presidential election at the national convention in April next year.
There are reports that Jokowi has been seeking ways to have the People's Democratic Party replace secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto with a party member aligned with the former president so that he can influence the course of the leadership race. Hasto is considered a loyal supporter of Megawati and an outspoken critic of Jokowi.
“We don’t deny that. [We, party members, have heard] Problem some time ago. It appears to have been deliberately reinstated on the eve of the party's national congress,” Dadi told a news conference on Thursday.
Speculation that Jokowi would seek to intervene in the party's upcoming presidential race first emerged earlier this year, when a speech by Megawati suggested a plot was underway to prevent her from being re-elected and taking over the party chairmanship.
Megawati is the longest-serving party leader in the country.
Although Megawati initially claimed to be considering quitting the party, she decided to seek re-election at next year's party congress after PDI-P members asked her to stay in power.
At the same event last week, the party revealed that Megawati had warned all party members and staff to be wary of external forces fomenting friction ahead of the party congress.
The warning comes after banners calling for the ouster of HDP chairperson Megawati popped up at several strategic locations in Greater Jakarta, with some also claiming her recently extended term as chairperson without elections was “illegal” .
The banners refer to Megawati's decision in July to extend her leadership until next year and bring new people to the party's central committee who have openly criticized Jokowi and his family. Megawati was scheduled to end her term this year.
Jokowi, who was still president at the time, was reportedly unhappy with her decision. He later ousted then-Law and Human Rights Minister Yasona Laoly, a long-time HDP politician who approved Megawati’s term extension and HDP central committee without informing the president. A new line-up for the committee. The presidential palace denied at the time that Jokowi had interfered with the People's Democratic Party's new organizational structure.
Ronny Berty Talanessy, the PDI-P's executive officer in charge of legal affairs, said the banners appeared as part of a systematic smear campaign against the party's female leader. He said the banners angered all PDI-P members.
“The distribution of banners and leaflets was apparently intended to create an emergency within the PDI-P and, according to Ibu Megawati, this may have been [divide] “The party is on the eve of its national congress,” he said recently.
Some observers have speculated that Jokowi may have or will seek to launch a counterattack against the HDP after he and his family were sacked last week.
Political science lecturer Airlangga Pribadi said: “Jokowi may have taken advantage of the factional struggles within the People's Democratic Party, if not to take over the party, at least to weaken the party's internal support for Jokowi and his Political dynasties harbor hostile and critical rival factions.
“Jokowi's influence in the current government is still considerable. [of Prabowo]Jokowi can convince [some factions within PDI-P] and making political concessions in an effort to build a loyal base within the party.
Megawati is also expected to announce whether the party will support President Prabowo Subiato's government or continue its role as an opposition.
