PDP deemed serious threat to PDI-P<\/p>\n
Ridwan Max Sijabat and Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
A political grouping, officially launched here on Thursday by
\ndissatisfied elements of former president Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri's party, is deemed a serious threat to the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-Perjuangan).<\/p>\n
The newly established Democratic Renewal Party (PDP) could
\npose a heavy challenge for PDI-P and Megawati's \"authoritarian\"
\nleadership, said J. Kristiadi, a political analyst with the
\nCentre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).<\/p>\n
\"PDP is a real challenge for PDI-P to reform itself and could
\nturn into a serious threat in the long run if Megawati fails to
\nmake a significant change in her leadership style in the party,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
He said the new party may not be able to defeat PDI-P in the
\n2009 general elections as its loyal supporters still trusted
\nMegawati to carry on in Sukarno's footsteps.<\/p>\n
\"But, if Megawati maintains her authoritarian leadership, her
\nimage will be tarnished and PDI-P supporters will switch
\nallegiance to PDP in the next 10 or 15 years,\" Kristiadi warned.<\/p>\n
He said the PDP's establishment shows that there were still
\npoliticians wanting to promote and apply Sukarno's ideas on
\ndemocracy consistently.<\/p>\n
The founders, all former Megawati loyalists and close aides,
\nabandoned PDI-P because they thought she had betrayed Sukarno's
\nteachings, the analyst added.<\/p>\n
With PDP's establishment, PDI-P lost its good cadres and
\nsignificant donors who contributed greatly to the party's strong
\nperformance in the 1999 and 2004 general elections.<\/p>\n
The PDP cofounders included oil businessman Arifin Panigoro,
\nformer investment minister Laksamana Sukardi, Roy B.B. Janis,
\nDidi Supriyanto, Sukowaluyo Mintohardjo and Postdam Hutasoit.<\/p>\n
Noted education expert Muchtar Buchori is also on the central
\nboard of the party.<\/p>\n
\"Our main goal is to consistently promote and implement
\ndemocracy as taught by Sukarno,\" said Sukowaluyo who read out a
\nstatement in a ceremony to declare PDP's establishment.<\/p>\n
Sukowaluyo and other disgruntled PDI-P politicians had formed
\na reform movement after they failed to push a reform agenda,
\nincluding replacing Megawati during the party's national congress
\nin Bali in March 2005.<\/p>\n
The demand surfaced following Megawati's defeat in the 2004
\ndirect presidential election. However, she was reelected as the
\nPDI-P leader and thus recalled all of her opponents from the
\nHouse of Representatives.<\/p>\n
Abdul Madjid, who chairs PDP's advisory council, said his
\nparty had approached other \"Sukarnoist\"-oriented parties such as
\nPNBK, Pioneer Party and Indonesian Marhaenist Party to join
\nforces for the 2009 elections.<\/p>\n
Senior PDI-P figure Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno, one of
\nMegawati's loyalists, admitted that PDP may cost his party its
\nappeal and support from constituents.<\/p>\n
\"I think Megawati still has the support of the grassroots, but
\nother classes may give their backing to Roy (B.B Janis). It's
\nsomething to worry about, thus I call on PDI-P to immediately
\nmake approaches to our constituents to remain loyal,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Soetardjo said that the formation of the new party should not
\nbe played down.<\/p>\n
\"I hope the PDI-P central board can re-establish dialog with
\nthem to prevent the fall of PDI-P. We should put our focus back
\non the fight for the people,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Maruara Sirait, deputy chairman of PDI-P said Megawati's
\nopponents had the political right to form a new party.<\/p>\n
\"Let's see what happens in the next general elections,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Like PDI-P and other pro-Sukarno political parties, PDP took
\nPancasila and the amended 1945 Constitution as its ideology, with
\na strong emphasis on its pluralist and inclusive characteristics.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pdp-deemed-serious-threat-to-pdi-p-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}