Megawati Issues Internal Letter, Affirms PDIP as Balancing Force, Not Opposition

PDIP Chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri has issued an internal letter regarding her party’s position. The letter states that the party’s political stance is that of a balancing force within Indonesia’s constitutional system. “At the Opening of the VI PDI Perjuangan Congress in Badung Regency, Bali Province, on 1 August 2025, I emphasised that in the presidential government system adopted by the Republic of Indonesia, the terms opposition and coalition are not recognised as constitutional categories regulated by the constitution,” Megawati said in the letter numbered 1275/IN/DPP/VI/2026, as seen on Wednesday, 8 July 2026. Megawati stressed that Indonesian democracy is not a democracy of power blocs, but rather a democracy based on popular sovereignty and constitutional supremacy. PDIP argues that the status of ‘opposition party’ is only recognised in a parliamentary system. Under the presidential system based on the 1945 Constitution, the oversight function (checks and balances) is a constitutional duty of all members of the House of Representatives (DPR RI), regardless of whether their party is inside or outside the government. “Neither the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia nor its implementing legislation recognises the legal status of ‘opposition party’ or ‘official opposition’. The Constitution instead regulates the separation of powers and the mechanism of checks and balances. Through Article 20A Paragraph (1) of the 1945 Constitution, all DPR members, regardless of their political party origin, bear the functions of legislation, budgeting, and oversight of the government’s performance,” the explanatory letter stated. According to Megawati, PDIP will support government policies that favour the people, and vice versa. “PDI Perjuangan, as a balancing force, does not position itself as a force that rejects the government a priori,” she said. “Thus, all legislators from PDI Perjuangan have the same constitutional obligation to carry out the oversight function of the government’s performance. The oversight function is not an exclusive right of the so-called opposition, but a constitutional mandate inherent to all representative institutions,” she added. Megawati emphasised that for PDI Perjuangan, being a balancing force is not a tactical choice determined by the temporary configuration of power. “This position is an ideological consequence of the party’s identity as an ideological party and a pioneer party with a populist, nationalist character and a will to safeguard the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia,” she asserted.