Cracks in PDI-P
Cracks in PDI-P
Serious cracks are now showing in almost all the leading
political parties but the most glaring ones come from the winner
of the recent general election (which collected 35 per cent of
all votes), the nationalist Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) thereby eventually allowing its
chairwoman, Megawati Soekarnoputri, to grab the position of
president of the country.
There are forces within PDI Perjuangan that would like to
see Megawati resign as party chief and concentrate fully on her
task as the country's chief executive. It is feared that she will
put her party's interests above those of the people.
Against such a background, two leading members of PDI
Perjuangan in the House of Representatives, notably faction
leader Sophan Sophian, and Dimyati Hartono, have tendered their
resignations as members of PDI Perjuangan. Dimyati says he
plans to set up a new political party to take part in the 2004
general elections, surprisingly enough embracing the younger
sister of Megawati, Rachmawati, with whom she used to be at
loggerheads on political affairs.
Sophan Sophian has said he can no longer withstand the
political atmosphere within the party ranks, which goes against
his conscience, and prefers to step down.
It is an open secret that Megawati is now being surrounded by
people close to members of the Cabinet or their wives, who are
showering her and members of her family with all kinds of favors
that remind one of the time of former absolute ruler Soeharto.
This kind of service to the first family is uncalled for under a
democratic setup: It smacks of nepotism, which could ruin the
party in the long run and on the eve of the 2004 direct general
elections.
PDI Perjuangan will be hard-pressed to retain its
lead in the coming general election due to take place in two
years' time. For the time being the coalition government is
strong enough to withstand any legislative storm until the year
2004. However, PDI Perjuangan is unlikely to emerge from the
elections in 2004 as strong as before with so many splits within
its ranks.
GANDHI SUKARDI
Jakarta