Candra Malik & Febriamy Hutapea

A woman prepares rice sacks beside a poster of presidential candidate Megawati Sukarnoputri and her running mate Prabowo Subianto at a market in Solo on Monday. (Photo: Andry Prasetyo, Reuters)

Puan: I’m Ready to Step Into My Mother’s Shoes

Another scion of Sukarno is now ready to further the family’s political dynasty at the helm of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle.

Puan Maharani, the daughter of Megawati Sukarnoputri, the current chairwoman of the party also known as PDI-P, and a granddaughter of founding President Sukarno, said on Monday for the first time that she was ready to step up if her mother was elected president next week.

“If there are PDI-P members who want me to, I’m ready to replace my mother as the party chairwoman, although it’s a heavy duty. Indeed, the PDI-P should be led by someone from the Sukarno family,” Puan said.

But even if Megawati is elected, Puan’s plan would likely be met with opposition from inside the family and the party, as her uncle Guruh also has his eye on that seat.

Speaking during the 2009 Solo Batik Carnival event in Central Java, Puan said there have been recent moves within the party to look for a new leader, but they were temporarily shelved as the party set its sights on the presidential election.

“If Ibu Mega wins, the dialogue about who would be the next head of the PDI-P would be an ethical topic,” she said, dismissing concerns that her candidacy would cause friction within the clan.

Guruh, Megawati’s youngest brother, said last month that he would be the perfect candidate. A choreographer-cum-politician, he has previously launched a half-hearted challenge to Megawati’s leadership of the party, saying Puan, who is in her 30s, was too young for the responsibility of leading what is in effect a political dynasty built on the memory of Sukarno.

Guruh said he was proud of Puan’s achievements, including her knowledge of politics and her concern for the nation’s key challenges. “Her ability is not yet developed enough to lead the party. Maybe in the next 10 or 20 years she will make a suitable leader.”

His opinion was echoed by one of Puan’s aunts, Sukmawati.

Striking back, Puan stressed that the PDI-P needed a young leader, not a 56-year-old like her uncle. “Guruh? No way. The figure of PDI-P’s leader should be someone who is accepted by all walks of life,” Puan said.

“Besides, Guruh’s stature could never compare to Ibu Mega’s charisma.”

She said she would be ready to lead the PDI-P, “as long as it would be in accord with the party’s mechanisms.”

She said Megawati and her entourage have groomed her for the PDI-P throne, involving her in party decision-making and keeping her close at hand.

PDI-P senior member Aria Bima agreed Megawati was preparing Puan to take over the party leadership by 2010. “The plan to refresh the party leadership has been discussed for years,” he said. “We’re open over the matter, and I think Puan deserves to replace Ibu Mega,” he said.

Puan, he said, had proven herself able to win a seat of her own in the April legislative elections in the Central Java district that covers Solo, Sukoharjo, Boyolali and Klaten.

Your View

See Result