PDI-P and Megawati's Personification

The figure of Megawati Soekarnoputri serves as a political magnet for the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle. Her name is recorded as the longest-serving chairperson leading a political party on the national political stage.

The 6th Congress of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has reconfirmed Megawati Soekarnoputri as general chairperson.

Similar to previous congresses, the election of Megawati as the general chair was the result of an acclamation process, meaning a unanimous vote from all congress participants who wished for the fifth President of the Republic of Indonesia to lead this political party for the upcoming term (2025-2030).

The election of Megawati further solidifies her name as the politician who has served the longest as the chairperson of a political party. Before it was renamed PDI-P, Megawati had already led PDI prior to the reform era.

However, if calculated since the era of PDI-P, Megawati has served as the chairperson of PDI-P for more than three decades. Her election at the Bali Congress yesterday further solidified her name as inseparable from PDI-P.

By resuming the position of Chairperson of PDI-P for the next five years, the rumors regarding the retirement discourse that Megawati had previously mentioned in 2024 have been answered.

At that time, Megawati Soekarnoputri emphasized the need to consider regeneration and that she must retire. However, on another occasion, Megawati mentioned that she would return to serve as the chairperson of PDI-P in the upcoming period.

This statement was made by Megawati after she claimed to have heard about attempts to take over the PDI-P at that time. This statement was delivered by Megawati in her speech at the DPP PDI-P Office, Jalan Diponegoro, Menteng, Central Jakarta, Wednesday (14/8/2024).

The re-election of Megawati Soekarnoputri as the chairperson has made PDI-P the only political party participating in elections since the reform era that has not had another figure as chairperson besides Megawati. However, upon closer examination, there are signs of similar personification efforts occurring in several other political parties.

Take, for example, the National Awakening Party, which has been led by Muhaimin Iskandar since 2005 and will continue until 2029. This means that Muhaimin has effectively led the DPP PKB for approximately five terms. In comparison to Megawati, Muhaimin Iskandar is recorded as the second longest-serving chairman after Megawati, who leads the PDI-P.

Similar symptoms are also experienced by the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the Democratic Party. The name Zulkifli Hasan is noted as the first figure to lead PAN for more than one term.

Zulhas, as he is commonly called, has served as the chairman of PAN since 2015. He was first elected at the IV PAN Congress for the 2015-2020 term. Zulhas was then re-elected for the 2020-2025 term at the V PAN Congress. Most recently, at the VI PAN Congress, Zulhas was once again elected as the chairman of PAN for the 2025-2030 term.

Meanwhile, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) is also noted to be the first chairman of the Democratic Party to serve more than one term. AHY was first elected at the V Congress of the Democratic Party for the 2020-2025 term. At the VI Congress, AHY was re-elected for his second term to lead the Democratic Party for the 2025-2030 period.

The same symptoms of personification certainly also afflict the Gerindra Party. Prabowo Subianto has led Gerindra since 2014 to the present. Prabowo's name is also recorded as the first chairman to serve more than one term in Gerindra.

The symptoms of personification are not always identical to large political parties that hold seats in the DPR. A similar tendency is also beginning to be exhibited by the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI).

Kaesang Pangarep's name has been re-elected as the chairman of this party. Kaesang is also noted as the first person in PSI to be elected twice to lead the party for his second term, 2025-2030.

The re-election of Megawati Soekarnoputri as the chairperson of PDI-P further emphasizes that the direction of political parties in Indonesia finds it difficult to detach from personal or individual figures.

Interestingly, generally, political parties that have strengthened their ideological identity do not necessarily require the support of a figure. However, PDI-P possesses both, having both ideological strength and prominent figures.

Referring to the theory of party institutionalization introduced by Mainwaring and Scully (1995), the phenomenon of the personification of political parties is often regarded as a tendency towards the weakening of party institutionalization.

However, what PDI-P is experiencing is certainly not in that context, as institutionally PDI-P has also begun to organize itself, one of which is by streamlining its cadre development through the establishment of a party school.

What is happening in PDI-P may align with the theory of political charisma introduced by Max Weber. This theory divides the legitimacy of power into three categories: traditional, legal-rational, and charismatic.

Political personification emerges when charismatic legitimacy is dominant. It is at this point that Megawati's influence within the PDI-P reflects the strength of her charisma.

The charismatic leadership emanated by Megawati still serves as a significant strength for the PDI-P. The centralization of power in the hands of Megawati as the chairperson also reflects a relatively distinctive form of democratization for this party.

Nevertheless, the challenge for PDI-P is how the model of leadership and internal democratization of the party can address electoral needs in the future.

The electoral challenge is particularly associated with the relationship between PDI-P and power. In her speech at the VI PDI-P Congress 2025, Megawati Soekarnoputri stated that the challenges ahead are not easy, thus the party will support the government as a sparring partner or a strategic balancing partner.

Megawati's statement signals that on one hand, PDI-P does not explicitly position itself as an opposition to the government, but rather as a strategic partner. Throughout the ten years during President Jokowi's era, in which PDI-P has been part of the government, this party finds it difficult to decide to step outside of power again.

This is the challenge for PDI-P, which is currently facing a dilemma between upholding its ideological dignity, namely maintaining a critical position outside or becoming a constructive partner of the government.

If it joins Prabowo's government, PDI-P could strengthen its power base but risks losing its ideological aura.

Conversely, if it is fully outside of power, the political strength of PDI-P may not be as strong as the parties that are within the government.

Ultimately, the strengthening symptoms of personification within the PDI-P, with the re-election of Megawati Soekarno Putri as the chairperson, will once again present this party with its electoral challenges in the upcoming 2029 elections.

It must be acknowledged that PDI-P has a strong political infrastructure and a large legislative network. However, to remain relevant on the political stage of Indonesia in the future, PDI-P needs to adapt to the aspirations of the younger generation, clarify its political direction, and begin to open up space for regeneration without losing its ideological identity. (Litbang Kompas)