PDP deemed serious threat to PDI-P

PDP deemed serious threat to PDI-P

Ridwan Max Sijabat and Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

A political grouping, officially launched here on Thursday by
dissatisfied elements of former president Megawati
Soekarnoputri's party, is deemed a serious threat to the
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-Perjuangan).

The newly established Democratic Renewal Party (PDP) could
pose a heavy challenge for PDI-P and Megawati's "authoritarian"
leadership, said J. Kristiadi, a political analyst with the
Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

"PDP is a real challenge for PDI-P to reform itself and could
turn into a serious threat in the long run if Megawati fails to
make a significant change in her leadership style in the party,"
he said.

He said the new party may not be able to defeat PDI-P in the
2009 general elections as its loyal supporters still trusted
Megawati to carry on in Sukarno's footsteps.

"But, if Megawati maintains her authoritarian leadership, her
image will be tarnished and PDI-P supporters will switch
allegiance to PDP in the next 10 or 15 years," Kristiadi warned.

He said the PDP's establishment shows that there were still
politicians wanting to promote and apply Sukarno's ideas on
democracy consistently.

The founders, all former Megawati loyalists and close aides,
abandoned PDI-P because they thought she had betrayed Sukarno's
teachings, the analyst added.

With PDP's establishment, PDI-P lost its good cadres and
significant donors who contributed greatly to the party's strong
performance in the 1999 and 2004 general elections.

The PDP cofounders included oil businessman Arifin Panigoro,
former investment minister Laksamana Sukardi, Roy B.B. Janis,
Didi Supriyanto, Sukowaluyo Mintohardjo and Postdam Hutasoit.

Noted education expert Muchtar Buchori is also on the central
board of the party.

"Our main goal is to consistently promote and implement
democracy as taught by Sukarno," said Sukowaluyo who read out a
statement in a ceremony to declare PDP's establishment.

Sukowaluyo and other disgruntled PDI-P politicians had formed
a reform movement after they failed to push a reform agenda,
including replacing Megawati during the party's national congress
in Bali in March 2005.

The demand surfaced following Megawati's defeat in the 2004
direct presidential election. However, she was reelected as the
PDI-P leader and thus recalled all of her opponents from the
House of Representatives.

Abdul Madjid, who chairs PDP's advisory council, said his
party had approached other "Sukarnoist"-oriented parties such as
PNBK, Pioneer Party and Indonesian Marhaenist Party to join
forces for the 2009 elections.

Senior PDI-P figure Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno, one of
Megawati's loyalists, admitted that PDP may cost his party its
appeal and support from constituents.

"I think Megawati still has the support of the grassroots, but
other classes may give their backing to Roy (B.B Janis). It's
something to worry about, thus I call on PDI-P to immediately
make approaches to our constituents to remain loyal," he said.

Soetardjo said that the formation of the new party should not
be played down.

"I hope the PDI-P central board can re-establish dialog with
them to prevent the fall of PDI-P. We should put our focus back
on the fight for the people," he added.

Maruara Sirait, deputy chairman of PDI-P said Megawati's
opponents had the political right to form a new party.

"Let's see what happens in the next general elections," he
said.

Like PDI-P and other pro-Sukarno political parties, PDP took
Pancasila and the amended 1945 Constitution as its ideology, with
a strong emphasis on its pluralist and inclusive characteristics.