PDI-P Hints at Endorsing Cadres

In a speech commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri emphasized that the party was readying its cadres to lead the nation.

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

President Joko Widodo (second from right) accompanied by Vice President Ma'ruf Amin (second from left) receives nasi tumpeng (rice cone) from PDI Perjuangan Chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri (center) at the peak of the PDI Perjuangan 50th Anniversary event in Jakarta, Tuesday (10/1 /2023).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Megawati Soekarnoputri, has not been swayed by pressure from several other parties who want the winning party of the 2014 and 2019 elections to immediately announce their presidential candidate for the 2024 election.

She instead emphasized that the PDI-P was continuing to ready its cadres to lead the nation. Other parties were reminded to do the same and not try to ride on the coattails of successful PDI-P cadres.

Megawati sensed that the pressure had grown on the PDI-P to announce its 2024 presidential candidate as the party’s 50th anniversary neared. However, Megawati did not budge.

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In a speech at the PDI-P’s 50th anniversary celebration at Jakarta International Expo on Tuesday (10/1/2023), Megawati said the party was continuing to ready the best figure to carry on with the nation’s development.

Megawati emphasized that political parties were responsible for preparing their cadres to become leaders. In the PDI-P, this was no easy matter that anyone could pass. Even to become a cadre, there were a number of stages to pass, from receiving a membership card to participating in various assessments and to working within the party’s structure.

Based on her experience in leading and developing the party since the 1990s, leaders must also have a willingness to work hard and reach out to the grassroots to build physical and spiritual bonds with the people. Without this willingness to be among the people, leaders would not be able to really understand the problems or the aspirations of the people.

There must be bonding between a leader and the people.

“There must be bonding between a leader and the people. Not just being in one place physically, but you have to feel a vibration, and if you don’t go all the way down, you won’t be able to feel it,” she said in front of tens of thousands of cadres attending the 50th anniversary event.

The event was also attended by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Vice President Ma’ruf Amin, as well as several ministers from the Indonesian Onward Cabinet with professional affiliations to the party. The PDI-P, however, did not invite figures from other political parties because of an agenda that focused on internal consolidation. According to this plan, a similar internal consolidation event with a larger crowd would be held on 1 June at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta.

Megawati continued that, as regards the several arguments that had risen over this kind of leadership, she asked that the cadres trust her decision. As a party chair who was given the mandate to select the party’s presidential nominee during a party congress, she vowed that she would not choose someone who would harm the party.

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

Chairperson of the PDI Perjuangan (PDIP) Megawati Soekarnoputri made a political speech at the peak of the 50th anniversary of the PDIP in Jakarta, Tuesday (10/1/2023).

She emphasized that it was the duty of all cadres is to work directly in the community. “You don’t need to think about the candidate, that is the chairwoman’s job. What is clear is that I will not throw us into a well. If we work, we will definitely win,” said Megawati.

She highlighted that other political parties should also work hard in their own context, as she had noticed a tendency among other parties to piggyback on the success of PDI-P cadres.

You don’t need to think about the candidate, that is the chairwoman’s job.

“Mbok work first, and then make a fuss. How are they just making a fuss without even saying goodbye, and then taking my people? You wish,” said Megawati.

In her two-hour speech, Megawati reiterated that she rejected the idea of postponing the 2024 election and a third presidential term. For almost 20 minutes, she talked about the importance of women’s leadership.

Megawati also launched a floating hospital that would operate in Indonesia’s outermost areas. The hospital is based on a warship named after Adm. Malahayati, a national heroine from Aceh.

Endorsing a cadre

President Jokowi welcomed the PDI-P’s intention to nominate its own cadre for the 2024 presidential election. He was certain that the PDI-P chairwoman would be careful in her choice.

“Ibu Megawati is very careful in making decisions, she is calm and does not rush like others,” said Jokowi.

He expressed his appreciation for Megawati for not giving in, even though she had been pressed from all sides to reveal the name of the PDI-P’s presidential candidate. Jokowi was confident that the candidate was already in Megawati’s hands.

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“We are all waiting patiently. What she reveals, of course, will come in time and in accordance with the calculations made by the chairwoman, Ibu Megawati Soekarnoputri,” Jokowi added.

The President also wished the PDI-P a happy 50th anniversary. At its golden age of half a century, the PDI-P had grown into a mature party after passing along a long, bitter road, as well as falling and rising to become the large party it was today.

On the sidelines of the PDI-P’s 50th anniversary event, PDI-P secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto said that Megawati had already chosen its presidential candidate and would announce the name when the time was right. He did not deny that Megawati would choose a PDI-P cadre as a presidential candidate. From an ideal political perspective, political parties must ready cadres who had been trained as leaders.

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

The PDI Perjuangan Cakra Buana Task Force carried the party's flag during the jump in the series of peak events for the 50th anniversary of the PDI Perjuangan in Jakarta, Tuesday (10/1/2023).

However, this did not necessarily mean that the party would endorse its own cadres for the presidency and vice presidency. Indonesia was a large country with a diverse voter segment that must be considered.

Even though the PDI-P fulfilled the presidential nomination threshold, Hasto also did not deny the possibility that his party may form an alliance with other political parties. This was because the PDI-P prioritized the spirit of mutual cooperation in nation building.

Indonesian Political Parameter executive director Adi Prayitno told Kompas that the PDI-P had always endorsed its own cadres for public office. This differentiated the party and even showed its superiority compared to other political parties.

Also read: Interpretation of Megawati's Speech

In terms of the public’s choice as regards presidential candidates, at least two names had surfaced: Ganjar Pranowo and House of Representatives Speaker Puan Maharani. Adi predictd that the PDI-P would favor one of the two, depending on the opponent they would be facing.

NasDem Party deputy chairman Ahmad Ali said that all parties were reading the strengths of the opponents they faced. As such, everyone seemed to be waiting for each other. It was the same with NasDem, which had yet to choose a running mate for Anies Baswedan.

For NasDem, whoever the PDI-P nominated as a presidential candidate was certain to have the same chance of winning. He noticed that the PDI-P had a very strong ideological voter base.

In terms of the public’s choice as regards presidential candidates, at least two names had surfaced: Ganjar Pranowo and House of Representatives Speaker Puan Maharani.

The militancy of its cadres also meant their work was very structured. As such, whoever the PDI-P nominated was certain to be a threat to other candidate pairs, so other parties were waiting and watching to readjust their political maps.

Syaiful Huda, deputy secretary of the National Awakening Party (PKB) central executive board (DPP), suspected that the PDI-P would announce its presidential candidate at the last minute. This meant that other parties were also considering this scenario when forming alliances. If the PDI-P wanted to go at it alone with its existing figures, then there would be no more than or at least three political axes. However, if the PDI-P formed an alliance, there would be just two or three axes.

The potential for the PDI-P to make a last-minute decision would also affect political configurations, especially for parties that had yet to determine their stance or alliance. However, for the PKB and Gerindra, which had already decided to team up, perhaps they would be more concerned about which figure the PDI-P would be backing.

He appreciated the PDI-P’s decision to endorse its own cadres. Indeed, that was the essence of political parties. This was part of the party’s regeneration and democratization strategy.

This article was translated by Kesya Adhalia.