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.