PDI-P Secretary General's Seat Determined by General Chair, Congress Will Also Discuss Party's Stance

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, or PDI-P, will soon hold a party congress to determine its chairperson. The upcoming chairperson, who is expected to remain the 5th President Megawati Soekarnoputri, will decide which cadre is suitable to occupy the position of Secretary General of PDI-P. In addition, the congress will also establish the party's firm and official stance toward the government.

According to the plan, the 5th Congress of PDI-P is set to be held after the 2025 Eid celebration. Although the chairperson position is not highly contested, the position of secretary-general tends to be a point of contention. This is due to the fact that PDI-P Secretary-General Hasto Kristiyanto is currently detained and stands as a defendant in a case involving alleged bribery in the management of DPR members for the 2019-2024 term and obstruction of its investigation.

The spokesperson for PDI-P, Guntur Romli, when contacted from Jakarta on Thursday (3/4/2025), stated that, as of now, there has been no determination of when the party congress will be held. The decision will be formulated through a plenary meeting of the Central Executive Board (DPP) of PDI-P and instructions from the Chairperson of PDI-P.

On the other hand, the debate over who is suitable to fill the position of Secretary-General of PDI-P, Guntur continued, is unnecessary. This is because the position of Secretary-General depends on the decision of the elected chairperson resulting from the congress. Meanwhile, Megawati Soekarnoputri is predicted to be re-elected as Chairperson of PDI-P.

"Since the congress only appoints the General Chairperson (not together with the secretary-general). Certainly, Mrs. Megawati Soekarnoputri has been asked to return as the General Chairperson of PDI-P for the next five years, 2025-2030," he stated.

In addition to the party's structure, Guntur added, the 5th Congress of PDI-P will also discuss the party's strategic steps for the next five years, including its official stance toward the government. This means PDI-P will move out of the gray area between cooperating with or opposing the government. This is because, to date, PDI-P remains the only political party outside the government.

Because the congress only appoints the Chairperson (not together with the secretary-general). Certainly, Mrs. Megawati Soekarnoputri has been requested to return as the Chairperson of PDI-P for the next five years, 2025-2030.

Previously, PDI-P DPP Chairman Komarudin Watubun had invited PDI-P cadres to compete for the secretary general seat. Because, after the congress determines the general chairman, the elected PDI-P General Chairman will formulate the management structure including the secretary general.

"There are many cadres, please fight to become secretary general," he said.

However, the senior PDI-P politician does not yet know who the candidates are who are worthy of sitting in the secretary general's chair. Because, the elected general chairman will determine it, not be elected through a congress.

For information, the PDI-P V Congress must be held this year along with the end of the PDI-P DPP management period. The DPP management period that began in 2019 should have ended last year, but the PDI-P DPP requested a one-year extension or end in 2025.

The position of secretary general was discussed in the congress after Hasto was detained by the KPK in late February. Although Hasto is a defendant and is being held in prison, PDI-P General Chair Megawati Soekarnoputri decided not to remove or replace Hasto from the position of PDI-P Secretary General.