PDI-P National Working Meeting in the Middle of Two Faces of the Party

Jokowi and Puan's closeness contrasts with the attitude of some PDI-P elites. The differences are manifested in post-presidential election attitudes.

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

President Joko Widodo, together with the Chairperson of PDI-P Megawati Soekarnoputri, attended the pinnacle event of PDI-P's 50th anniversary in Jakarta on Tuesday, January 10th, 2023.

The relationship between President Joko Widodo and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle is becoming strained. The peak of the tension is that the PDI-P is confirmed not to have invited the number one person in the republic to the National Working Meeting of PDI-P which will begin today and is planned to run until Sunday (May 26, 2024).

The relationship between Jokowi and PDI-P appeared to be broken after PDI-P officially nominated former Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo as a presidential candidate in the 2024 Presidential Election (Pilpres), at the end of April 2023.

Since then, Jokowi, who is a member of PDI-P, has actually been intensively meeting with the Chairman of the Gerindra Party, Prabowo Subianto. As a result, Prabowo officially ran with Jokowi's eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, as the presidential and vice-presidential candidate (capres-cawapres) until they were eventually elected.

Jokowi also began to never appear at major PDI-P events, for example the PDI-P anniversary last January. He was also not seen during the birthday celebrations for PDI-P General Chair Megawati Soekarnoputri, last January, and during Eid last April, Megawati and Jokowi also did not meet or stay in touch.

However, in the midst of the strained relationship between Jokowi and PDI-P, the Chair of the PDI-P Central Leadership Council who is also the Chair of the House of Representatives (DPR) Puan Maharani actually showed her closeness to Jokowi at the banquet dinner or gala dinner 10th World Water Forum High Level Conference (KTT) at Garuda Wisnu Kencana, Bali, Sunday (19/5/2024).

Also read: Not invited to the PDI-P National Working Meeting, Jokowi and Puan meet warmly in Bali

DOKUMENTASI TIM PUAN MAHARANI

President Joko Widodo shook hands with House of Representatives Chairman Puan Maharani during his speech at the 10th World Water Forum dinner in Bali on Sunday (19/5/2024).

Puan even uploaded a photo of herself with Jokowi on her Instagram. In the photo, Puan is seen wearing a white kebaya and Balinese endek cloth. "The word endek is taken from the word gendekan/ngendek, which means silent, fixed, unchanging, consistent in color," wrote Puan in the upload.

Regarding the meeting between Jokowi and Puan, PDI-P Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto considers it a regular meeting. PDI-P does have a significant agenda in the World Water Forum event, which is to strengthen the preservation of the environment, especially water.

"The meeting between Mr. Jokowi as the president and Ms. Puan as the Speaker of the House was conducted in a legal-formal function, and in the duties of the state, where Indonesia hosted the very important conference," said Hasto in a press conference at the DPP PDI-P office in Jakarta on Wednesday (May 22, 2024).

Hasto also revealed the reason why Jokowi was not invited to the PDI-P's National Working Meeting. He stated that the 5th National Working Meeting was held in the spirit of reform, which means fighting against the dark sides of power. This momentum is considered appropriate, especially since, according to him, the public has recorded the brutality in the 2024 elections.

Also read: This is Why PDI-P Remains Top

KOMPAS/SATRIO PANGARSO WISANGGENI

PDI-P Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto

"From that spirit, those who are invited are surely those who have the spirit in upholding the rule of law democracy. Upholding the rule of law is upholding democracy that is based on the sovereignty of the people," he said.

PDI-P, according to Hasto, does not want to worry about Jokowi's absence at the upcoming national conference. This is because, until now, the party has never relied on individuals, but rather on the collective strength of all cadres. "There is no specific reflection on the absence of Pak Jokowi," he said.

Political stance

On the other hand, with the increasing rift between Jokowi and PDI-P, all parties are now waiting for the political stance of the party that has won three consecutive legislative elections since 2014. Because, lately, there has been speculation that the rift between Jokowi and PDI-P will be an obstacle for the party to join the Prabowo-Gibran government in October.

Also read: Prabowo between Jokowi and Megawati

Regarding this matter, Hasto stated that before determining PDI-P's political stance towards the future government, Megawati as the holder of the party's prerogative stance will first ask for input from her cadres in the national meeting. The input will be carefully considered, and only then will the decision be announced directly by Megawati.

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

General Chairperson of PDI-P, Megawati Soekarnoputri, delivered a political speech during the 51st anniversary of PDI-P in Lenteng Agung, Jakarta, on Wednesday (10/1/2024).

"Of course, this political stance is in response to whether Indonesia would be better off with PDI-P in or out of the government. That is an important benchmark. Because for us, the scope of our political life is dedicated to the people, the nation, and the country," said Hasto.

However, he continued that the political stance of PDI-P may only be conveyed during the upcoming PDI-P Congress. This is because PDI-P is accustomed to determining important and strategic matters, including whether to be inside or outside the government, during the congress. Moreover, there is still plenty of time before making a decision because the Prabowo-Gibran government will only be effective after October 20th.

"Because this is a very strategic thing. On average, this is determined in congress, but the National Working Meeting which espouses democratic values ​​will of course see a sense of urgency related to "the party's political stance," said Hasto.

A Political Science and International Studies lecturer at Paramadina University, Ahmad Khoirul Umam, believes that without the need for a dismissal letter, Jokowi's non-invitation to the PDI-P national conference is a political statement that confirms Jokowi is no longer a part of the larger PDI-P family.

Also read: Ahead of Determining the PDI-P's Attitude, the Opposition Group is Considered Still Needed

KOMPAS/ALIF ICHWAN

The Chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Megawati Soekarnoputri (right), is in discussion with President Joko Widodo (center), witnessed by Puan Maharani (left), before the opening ceremony of the PDI-P's 4th Congress at the Inna Grand Bali Beach Hotel, Bali, on Thursday (April 9, 2015).

However, Jokowi and Puan's meeting at the World Water Forum's gala dinner in Bali still gave rise to a number of speculations. At least the meeting which demonstrated the friendliness and solidarity of Puan and Jokowi showed the political maturity of both of them.

"Especially Puan's political maturity as the forefront of her party's political communicator, was shown again amidst the recent ups and downs of Jokowi and PDI-P's relationship," said Umam.

Indeed, the meeting between Jokowi and Puan was a formal state meeting as the top executives and legislative leaders in the last multilateral event held at the end of Jokowi's second term in government. Nevertheless, the meeting that showed the harmony between Jokowi and Puan could be an initial opportunity for communication between the two parties to rediscover the path to reconciliation between Jokowi and PDI-P.

"It is highly possible considering Puan, who has proven political diplomacy skills in dealing with both allies and political opponents of the PDI-P, also has strong political legitimacy to weave a compromise and negotiate with Jokowi," said Umam.

FAKHRI FADLURROHMAN

Chairwoman of PDI-P Megawati Soekarnoputri greeted party cadres and sympathizers accompanied by President Joko Widodo and representatives of party chairmen at the Peak Commemoration of Bung Karno Month at Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta, Saturday (24/6/2023).

However, the closeness between Puan and Jokowi is not in line with the political attitudes and statements of other elite members of PDI-P, including former presidential candidate endorsed by PDI-P, Ganjar Pranowo and Hasto Kristiyanto. These PDI-P elites still appear very critical in "attacking" Jokowi and his circle in the name of following the spiritual atmosphere of PDI-P cadres at the grassroots level.

"This confirms the existence of acute factionalism within the internal PDI-P, which is manifested in their different attitudes towards the direction of the new power under the leadership of Prabowo-Gibran in the future," said Umam.

Also read: Jokowi's proposal to lead Golkar begins to be voiced within the party's internal circles

If the divorce between Jokowi and PDI-P cannot be repaired, we just have to wait for the political maturity of both parties, to respect each other and not hurt each other. PDI-P can focus on its struggle agenda to improve democracy. Jokowi can also move on by looking for a new political home if he feels that PDI-P cannot accommodate his personal interests and struggle agenda.