Split Irrevocable Between Indonesia’s Jokowi and His Party
President, PDIP going separate ways
By: Ainur Rohmah
Last January 2023, at the 50th anniversary of the birth of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, or PDIP, the country’s biggest and most powerful political organization, the party’s leader Megawati Sukarnoputri turned to President Joko Widodo and said condescendingly, "Mr Jokowi, without PDIP, poor you." The 76-year-old Megawati’s words were greeted with laughter from the PDIP members attending the event. Jokowi only smiled faintly.
That video of Megawati's words is now being widely discussed as the split widens between the president and the party that brought him to the pinnacle of power in Indonesia. The president's supporters believe Megawati is too arrogant, considering Jokowi only a "party official" who could be managed without having bargaining power, and who could even be bullied at party events. National Mandate Party (PAN) politician Yandri Susanto said that this dismissive attitude, coupled with Jokowi’s growing national influence and widespread popularity, has finally driven the split with the powerful woman who functions as kingmaker.
PDIP officials have listed all the things they have provided to the president and how they have been hurt by his betrayal and that of his family. His political career from the start, they say, was supported by the PDIP from his candidacy as mayor of Solo in 2005 to governor of Jakarta in 2012, and his two successful campaigns for the presidency. The party supported the two nominations of Jokowi's eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming and his son-in-law Bobby Nasution as mayor of Solo and Mayor of Medan respectively…