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

PDIP Chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri has issued an internal letter regarding her party’s political position. The letter states that the party’s role within Indonesia’s constitutional system is that of a balancing party.

“At the opening of the VI PDI Perjuangan Congress in Badung Regency, Bali Province, on 1 August 2025, I emphasised that within the presidential system adopted by the Republic of Indonesia, the terms ‘opposition’ and ‘coalition’ are not recognised as constitutional categories,” Megawati stated in the letter, numbered 1275/IN/DPP/VI/2026, as seen on Wednesday, 8 July 2026.

Megawati emphasised that Indonesian democracy is not a system of power blocs, but rather a democracy based on popular sovereignty and the supremacy of the constitution.

PDIP argues that the status of an ‘opposition party’ is only recognised in parliamentary systems. Meanwhile, under the 1945 Constitution’s presidential system, the function of oversight (checks and balances) is a constitutional obligation for all members of the House of Representatives (DPR RI), regardless of whether their party is within or outside the government.

“The 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, as well as statutory regulations, do not recognise the legal status of an ‘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 members of the DPR, regardless of their political party, bear the functions of legislation, budgeting, and oversight of the government’s operations,” Megawati’s explanatory letter wrote.

According to her, PDIP will continue to support government policies that favour the people, and vice versa.

“PDI Perjuangan, as a balancing party, does not position itself as a force that rejects the government a priori,” she said.

“Consequently, all legislative members from PDI Perjuangan have the same constitutional obligation to carry out the oversight function of the government’s operations. The oversight function is not the exclusive right of those called the opposition, but a constitutional mandate inherent to all representative institutions,” she added.

Megawati emphasised that for PDI Perjuangan, being a balancing party is not a tactical choice determined by temporary power configurations.

“This position is an ideological consequence of the party’s identity as an ideological and pioneering party with a populist and nationalist character, committed to maintaining the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia,” she asserted.