PDI-P reelects, Megawati unanimously

PDI-P reelects, Megawati unanimously

M. Taufiqurrahman and Dwi Atmanta, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar

Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) leader Megawati
Soekarnoputri was unanimously reelected for another five-year
term on Thursday, two days before the party's national congress
was scheduled to close in Bali.

She clinched reelection after a plenary session agreed on new
statutes stipulating that a party member could be nominated for
the top post if she or he had the support of 25 percent of the
delegates, and would automatically be declared the PDI-P leader
if she or he secured the support of 75 percent of the delegates.

Earlier in the congress, the majority of delegates, comprising
the heads of provincial and regency PDI-P chapters, accepted
Megawati's accountability report and nominated her as the lone
candidate for the leadership post.

With her unanimous victory, Megawati now has a free hand to
pick PDI-P's new central board, expected to consist of no more
than 33 people.

Megawati's victory was greeted by a chorus of approval from
the delegates after they endorsed the new statutes during the
plenary session, chaired by Frans Lemburaya.

"Those against Megawati's leadership, get out of the room,"
one of the congress participants shouted after Frans banged the
gavel, making official Megawati's reelection.

The congress was scheduled to conclude on Saturday, but with
discussions in the commission meetings completed on Thursday,
some congress participants began to pack their bags.

Megawati, who was first elected in 1993 to lead the Indonesian
Democratic Party (PDI), will lead the PDI-P at least through
2009. She was reelected after being declared fit to run for a
sixth-consecutive term based on the new statutes, which say that
candidates for the top post must have been party members for the
past five years and have never breached any party regulations.

Less than an hour after her reelection, Megawati stepped
outside the congress venue at the Grand Bali Beach Hotel to greet
supporters who had maintained a vigil in front of the hotel for
the past four days.

In keeping with her usual reticence, Megawati did not address
her supporters.

The victory was seen as a foregone conclusion, despite
attempts by hundreds of party members to form a breakaway
congress to protest what they called violations of party
statutes.

Pundits predicted Megawati would retain her position
unchallenged, simply because there were no alternative leaders
within the party.

Insiders said Megawati was initially reluctant to lead the
PDI-P for another term, but her inner circle persuaded her to
join the race.

A reform-minded group within the PDI-P opposed Megawati's
reelection, saying her leadership was responsible for the party's
losses in the 2004 legislative and presidential elections.

The reform group convened outside the Grand Bali Beach Hotel
and planned to form a splinter central board. However, they ruled
out the possibility of setting up a new party. The group issued a
statement saying the congress "was illegal".

Commenting on Megawati's reelection, a member of the reform
group, Sukowaluyo Mintohardjo, said the outcome was no surprise.
"I am not surprised to hear the result. But we stand by our claim
that the congress is illegal and therefore the reelection of
Megawati is also illegal."

The reform drive in the party fizzled out as it became clear
they would be unable to push through any of their demands. After
a brief meeting on Wednesday, the group issued a resolution to
set up a 29-member team to form a new national party leadership.
The group is also contesting the legitimacy of the congress in
the courts.