PDI-P Secretary General, Not Just the "Right Hand" of the General Chair

The position of Secretary General of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, or PDI-P, is expected to soon no longer be held by Hasto Kristiyanto, especially after he was detained by the Corruption Eradication Commission since February 20. The upcoming Sixth Congress of PDI-P after Eid is highly likely to become the moment to replace Hasto. So, what kind of party cadre figure is needed to assume the position of Secretary General of PDI-P?

Hasto has served as the Secretary-General of PDI-P since 2015, specifically when Megawati appointed him during the Fourth Congress of PDI-P in Bali. Since then, Hasto has become one of Megawati's closest associates.

However, Hasto is now unable to carry out that duty as he was arrested by the anti-corruption commission and detained since February 20, 2025. He is accused of being involved in the case surrounding Harun Masiku, a former legislative candidate from the PDI-P who became a fugitive of the anti-corruption commission for bribing former Election Commission member Wahyu Setiawan in 2020.

Although already behind bars, Megawati, who holds the "prerogative right" to determine the lineup of the central board of PDI-P, including the Secretary-General, decided not to replace Hasto. PDI-P, as is known, believes that what happened to Hasto is part of political criminalization.

However, Megawati's decision to retain Hasto as secretary-general is predicted not to last long. The 6th Congress of PDI-P could serve as a momentum for his replacement. Signals of a replacement during this congress have at least been conveyed by the Chairperson of PDI-P's Central Executive Board, who is also Megawati's daughter, Puan Maharani.

"(The Congress) will wait until after Eid. Later, we will discuss the secretary-general at the congress, as there must be a structural renewal from the top level to the bottom," said Puan at the Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Tuesday (25/3/2025).

The Chairman of the Central Executive Board of PDI-P, Komarudin Watubun, explained that the authority to select the secretary-general lies in the hands of the Chairperson of PDI-P. If the congress later decides that Megawati will once again lead PDI-P, as recommended by the National Working Meeting (Rakernas) of PDI-P at the end of May 2024, then the daughter of Indonesia's Proclaimer, Bung Karno, will determine which PDI-P cadre will serve as secretary-general.

He also assured that PDI-P does not lack cadres to fill the strategic position. In fact, he implied that there was already competition to win the position among cadres. "There are many cadres, please fight to become secretary general," said the member of Commission II of the DPR from the PDI-P faction.

However, it is suspected that it will not be easy for Megawati to decide who her new "right hand" will be if the Congress later elects her to lead the PDI-P again.

According to Senior Researcher at the Center for Political Research at the Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Firman Noor, PDI-P needs a figure who understands party management and administration like Hasto.

Under Hasto's control as secretary general, PDI-P as a political organization was improved. In fact, this party became the only political party in Southeast Asia to obtain ISO 9001:2015 certification in 2017. This certification confirms the maturity of its organization. PDI-P also obtained ISO 55001:2014 in June 2023. This new certificate shows that PDI-P is able to plan and manage asset management effectively and efficiently.

"In Hasto's time, it began to be arranged slowly. All of that was done to meet the party's needs so that it could catch up (in accordance) with the modern situation that demands the party to be good administratively," said Firman.

The orderliness and discipline of this organization show that political parties not only need loyal and militant cadres, but also those who are capable in management. According to Firman, this is not found in a number of parties, even in the class of parties that have been established for a long time.

"We have conducted research related to party organizational management. PDI-P is one of the parties with the best management among the others. In addition, there are also the Prosperous Justice Party, the Nasdem Party, and the National Mandate Party," he added.

According to Firman, good management of an organization, in this case a political party, cannot be separated from the role of the secretary general. So, PDI-P needs cadres who at least have good managerial and organizational skills.

"Regardless of the legal entanglement that befell him, Hasto's achievement should set the standard for cadres who become secretary-general in PDI-P high. He not only understands the party's ideology, but has advantages in management," said Firman.

Before Hasto took office, the figure of the secretary general accompanying the PDI-P General Chair Megawati Soekarnoputri had changed repeatedly. Starting from Alexander Litaay (1998-2000), Sutjipto (2000-2005), Pramono Anung (2005-2010), to Tjahjo Kumolo (2010-2015). Each secretary general had their own roles and challenges, as recorded several times in Kompas' notes.

Alexander Litaay served when PDI-P and PDI were still two separate party entities. He did not even mind that PDI led by Budi Hardjono continued to use the old logo, while they had to create a new one.

This rule was also stated in one of the articles of the Political Law at that time. According to Litaay, they would obey and adjust to the law. In fact, his party was optimistic that they would still win the 1999 Election.

"It doesn't matter if we have to change the name and symbol. People say, whatever the name and symbol, if it is under the leadership of Ibu Megawati, it will definitely get support," said Litaay (Kompas, Tuesday, January 26, 1999).

Litaay's words were proven in the people's party. PDI-P led by Megawati became the party with the most electability in the 1999 Election with 35.68 million votes or equivalent to 33.76 percent of the national vote. On the other hand, PDI led by Budi Hardjono only won 345,720 votes.

Sutjipto then continued the baton of secretary general at the 1st PDI-P Congress in Semarang, in 2000. In this era, the PDI-P, which was still young, faced various internal problems.

"Finally, after the political reform, the burden that weighed us down was internal friction that arose because of the cadre formation and consolidation that could not be implemented. The resolution of the conflict was never finished within the party," said Sutjipto (Kompas, April 2, 2000).

Sutjipto was then replaced by Pramono Anung Wibowo after Megawati was re-elected as PDI-P General Chairperson at the PDI-P's Second Congress in Bali in 2005. The senior politician who is now the Governor of DKI Jakarta served as secretary general for the next five years.

When carrying out this mandate, Pramono chose to resign as a member of the DPR because he considered that the duties of secretary general could not be done half-heartedly. "PDI-P needs people to grow the party. I also do not want to be an inactive member of the DPR so that I cannot serve the people I represent," he said (Kompas, April 2, 2005).

Pramono served when the PDI-P was in opposition to the government then led by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

He also spoke out loudly when the government implemented a number of policies that were considered burdensome to the people, such as the increase in fuel prices and daring to reject the revision of the law. One example is when the PDI-P's stance rejected the revision of Law Number 13 of 2003 concerning Manpower in May 2006.

This party also sided with the workers' actions, while Pramono also did not hesitate to criticize the government and question its campaign promises during the election.

After Pramono, Tjahjo Kumolo was elected as secretary general after the PDI-P's 3rd Congress declared Megawati as its general chairwoman again in Bali, 9 April 2010. In this era, PDI-P intensified strategic steps to increase the party's electability.

"PDI-P is implementing more dynamic strategies and policy steps with many breakthrough efforts, including utilizing the services of survey institutions," said Tjahjo (Kompas, June 17, 2010).

Like Pramono, Tjahjo also served as secretary-general when PDI-P was the government opposition. The party has also repeatedly criticized government policies, even reminding the authorities not to respond to demonstrations with violence.

However, Tjahjo did not fulfill the position of secretary general until the next congress. He resigned because he was appointed by President Joko Widodo as Minister of Home Affairs and was inaugurated on October 27, 2014.

Since then, Hasto Kristiyanto has been tasked to replace Tjahjo as Acting Secretary General of PDI-P. He was also confirmed as secretary general at the IV Congress in Sanur, Bali, on April 10, 2015. Hasto was also reappointed as secretary general by Megawati who was re-elected as PDI-P General Chairperson at the V Congress in Bali, August 2019. Hasto served as secretary general when PDI-P controlled the government and was dominant in parliament.

Now, PDI-P is preparing to hold its 6th Congress. Various problems that await this party can be seen from Megawati's speech during the opening speech of PDI-P's 52nd Anniversary in Jakarta, January 10, 2025. In fact, she used the Italian term, "Vivere Pericoloso" which means living on the edge of danger.

Although considering this year to be vulnerable for PDI-P, Megawati remains optimistic because her party is used to overcoming tests. "Various tests ahead of the VI Congress have begun to appear, we have been used to facing this since the New Order era," she said.

The party's solidity is also being tested at this time. Megawati stated that there are parties who want to target the position of general chairman. However, Puan Maharani still stated that her party remains solid and denied the issue that other parties, in this case Joko Widodo, will become the PDI-P General Chairman. She also asked the public not to speculate.

"We are solid. We believe that congress is the highest process within a party, and so is PDI-Perjuangan. So, we believe that everyone will respect and appreciate each other," said Puan after the PDI-P anniversary celebration.

According to Firman, the dynamics that are happening in PDI-P currently require a secretary-general who is on the same page and in tune with its general chairman. Moreover, the secretary-general is an important node in the party's internal relations, from management to cadre formation.

"If the party wants to progress, the function of the secretary general as an interpreter of the party's needs and its general chairman is important," he explained.