PDI-P trims Mega's privileges

PDI-P trims Mega's privileges

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) is
considering modifying the prerogatives granted to party leader
Megawati Soekarnoputri, in an attempt to become more modern.

PDI-P deputy secretary-general Pramono Anung Wibowo said here
on Tuesday that special powers could only be exercised after
consultation with other party leaders.

"There will be a stipulation requiring the party leader to use
their prerogatives transparently," he said on the sidelines of a
party meeting on Tuesday.

Pramono added that under existing party regulations, the party
leader could take action if the regulations or the state ideology
were threatened.

Megawati used her prerogatives to intervene in the election of
regional administrators, including the Jakarta governor in 2002.

PDI-P councillor Tarmidi Soehardjo was a gubernatorial
candidate, but Megawati backed the reelection of Sutiyoso, a
retired military officer.

Pramono said that the party's internal regulations would also
be revised. He said the central executive board would be expanded
from 17 members to somewhere between 36 and 45 members.

The board's expansion would apparently allow for the
accommodation of younger politicians from the Democratic People's
Party (PRD), he said.

According to Pramono, Megawati would likely maintain her
position as PDI-P leader. Among strong candidates to assist
Megawati as secretary-general are incumbent secretary-general
Sutjipto, Tjahjo Kumolo and Pramono.

"I don't know about that," Pramono said.

He said that the party had decided to delay its congress for
several days from Mar. 25 to Mar. 28.

The five-day congress would be attended by four
representatives of each of the PDI-P's 442 regental chapters and
32 provincial chapters -- around 1,750 people in total.

Meanwhile, PDI-P deputy chairman Kwik Kian Gie said that
Tuesday's meeting was intended as a forum to evaluate the
performance of the PDI-P in the general election.

"This is an evaluation, but we have not discussed possible
solutions to our problems," he said.

According to Kwik, apart from selecting the party leader, the
congress would also discuss efforts to return the PDI-P to its
ideological roots of democracy and nationalism.

Kwik had blamed Pramono, secretary general Sutjipto, and
Gunawan Wirasaroyo -- known as the "Gang of Three" -- for the
PDI-P's poor performance in the election.

The PDI-P, which garnered the most votes in the 1999 general
election, lagged behind the Golkar Party in "second place" in 2004.