Still Gunning for the Presidency
Megawati left the spotlight of the presidency of Indonesia in 2004 with an even
stronger determination to make a spectacular comeback. Now she has
announced her re-election bid for 2009.
By Yanto Soegiarto
Never consider Megawati Sukarnoputri to be yesterday’s woman. At the beginning
of September, she proved she still has the magnetism to draw a crowd.
Indonesia’s first woman president had made it clear that for her to run again, the
members of her Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) had to make it clear
they really wanted her to be a president again.
A three-day national coordination meeting of ther party powerful provided not only
support, but unanimous and outspoken, allowing Megawati to finally announce her reelection bid for 2009.
Megawati, 60, daughter of Indonesia’s founding president Sukarno, has maintained
a relatively low profile since losing the 2004 polls to Susiolo Bambang Yudhoyono.
But the famously tacitrun politician told a mass of PDI-P followers that she willing
to be nominated as her party’s presidential candidate. As she is the party leader, no
other candidates would be expected to stand against her, but there was also the
conviction that no-one could bring the job such outstanding credentials.
Tjahyo kumolo, chairman of the PDI-p faction at the House of Representative
(DPR) said PDI-P’s decision to nominate Megawati was also based on its perception that
Yudhoyono’s performance during the past three years ‘was no better’ than Megawati.
“Many people are suffering economically.”
Under law, presidential candidates can only be nominated by a party represented
in parliament. Megawati is the first candidate to announce her intention to run in 2009.
Job Experience
Megawati rose from Vice President to lead the world’s four largest nation when
then-president Abdurrahman Wahid was dismissed for alleged incompetence in July
2001.
She endured a humiliating defeat by current President Yudhoyono in 2004 when
she ran with chairman of the country’s largest Muslim movement, Hasyim Muzadi, as her
vice presidential candidate.
Her popularity mainly hinges on being the daughter of the charismatic Sukarno, who
proclaimed the country’s independence in 1945. but her government was deemed by
many as having lacked the determination to bring about promised reforms, including the
country’s battle against entrenched corruption.
Yudhoyono’s Democrat Party was quick to react to Megawati bid. “There’s
nothing positive about Megawati. She can’t boost the number of her party’s votes in
2009. we don’t want to add the public criticism of her,” faction chairman Ahmad
Mubarok said.
Yudhoyono, who was in Australia for the APEC summit, was not worried about
Megawati’s early start. “He’s not even touched by Megawati’s announcement,”
presidential spokesman Andi Malaranggeng said.
Political analyst Muhammad Qodary said Megawati’s announcement will definitely
boost the spirit base of PDI-P from the center of regions will be stronger. That’s the plus
point.”
“But the minus point is her early announcement will provide opportunity for other
presidential candidates such as Jusuf Kalla, Wiranto, and Sutiyoso to maneuver their
political interests. The Yudhoyono government will also be more careful to avoid being
targeted by PDI-P.”
Qodary, who heads survey institute Indo-Baromoter, said Megawati is still a
potential winner based on various surveys. He also predicts that the 2009 elections will
still be dominated by senior political figures.
“If the Yudhoyono government performs, than it would be difficult for Megawati.
But if the government fails, Megawati will benefit from the window of opportunity.”
Megawati took charge of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) in 1993, when
the country was under the dictatorship of President Suharto.
Suharto make a clumsy attempt at ousting her in 1996, leading to the formation
of her current party. The party went to win the country’s first post-Suharto elections in
1999, relegating the Golkar Party, which had reigned supreme during the three decades
under Suharto, to second place.
But in the 2004 elections Golkar knocked Megawati’s party back off the top spot,
leaving it with 109 out of 550 seats in parliament compared to Golkar’s 128.
Early Activism
Born as Dyah Permata Megawati Setyawati Sukarnoputri in Yogyakarta on
January 23, 1947, she studied at the Faculty of Psychology at the University on
Indonesia, though did not graduate.
She was an activist with the National Students Movement in 1965 and later
elevated her sights to become a member of the House of Representatives. During her
years in the House, she became well-acquainted with William Jefferson Clinton, who was
the the Governor of Arkansas.
Her activism propelled her to become a populist leader defending the rights of
the common people and nationalist interests. Then in 1993 she became party chief.
After a tough battle for survival against opposition from the Suharto regime, she
emerged into the new democratic era at the head of the new PDI-P, and with the
military supporting her 1999 presidential bid.
While her party had won the largest number of votes, the election for president,
at the time still controlled by the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR), maneuvered her
out of the top position, leaving her to take the consolation prize of the vice presidency
to Abdurrahman Wahid’s presidency.
At the time, Megawati admitted she left betrayed by Wahid, who she had
regarded as an older brother.
It was not long before she had her revenge. Wahid’s eccentric style of rule led to
his impeachment by the MPR, led by Amien Rais, and in 2001 Megawati was finally able
to become president of Indonesia.
Having been the fifth president of the country, now she has the challenge ahead
of fighting to become the seventh.
Taken from GlobeAsia, Vol. 1 Number 9 – October 2007, page 58-59.