Questioning PDI-P’s readiness to play an opposition role

From the outset of Prabowo Subianto’s presidency, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) was touted to play an opposition role. However, four months since he took office, the party has barely made headway in contesting any significant legislation, let alone take a firm, public stand in opposition to Prabowo.

Things might be different now, after the recent detention of PDI-P secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto by the Corruption Eradication Committee (KPK) for his alleged abetment in the escape of graft convict and PDI-P member Harun Masiku.

Hasto came out swinging after his arrest. In an attempt to bring down Joko “Jokowi” Widodo with him, he urged the KPK to look into the former president and his family for potential corruption, alluding to Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka , Jokowi’s son, and newly installed North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution, the ex-president’s son-in-law. “Hopefully, this will be a moment for the KPK to enforce the law without exception, including investigating Jokowi's family,” Hasto said.

Party chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri has also sprung into action to defend Hasto, a close confidant. In what many viewed as an act of defiance against the KPK’s decision, she prohibited PDI-P members who were inaugurated as regional heads from participating in the mandatory retreat, organized by Prabowo at the Military Academy in Magelang, Central Java.

Home Minister Tito Karnavian pointed to the noticeable absence of PDI-P members at the ongoing retreat and criticized Megawati’s decision, emphasizing that regional heads were elected by the people of their regions and were meant to serve them, not their parties.

To alleviate some of the pressure on the party, PDI-P spokesperson Ahmad Basarah said Megawati had never prohibited its members from participating in the retreat. Instead, he said, she had merely called on them to postpone attending the retreat until the second round, intended for regional leaders whose inauguration was delayed due to unresolved election disputes, court-mandated vote recounts and election reruns.

However, Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung and several other regional heads from the PDI-P have turned up for the retreat. Pramono said he decided to attend because Megawati had asked him to be a mediator for the party’s relations with the central government, a role he has filled often since winning the regional elections.

Analysts believe Megawati’s about-face is an attempt to save the PDI-P’s image as the de facto opposition.

Given its weak standing in the House of Representatives against Prabowo’s bloated Onward Indonesia Coalition (KIM), the PDI-P has little power in presenting genuine opposition. “To retain its place in the sphere of power, the PDI-P has adopted two faces: a partner to the government through its faction in the House of Representatives, while its central board plays an opposition role to appease voters,” said one analyst.

Adding fuel to the fire, Megawati’s daughter and PDI-P member Puan Maharani was spotted attending the launch of Prabowo’s newly established Danantara sovereign wealth fund, albeit in her capacity as House Speaker. There, she was seen sharing a light moment with Jokowi, the PDI-P’s archnemesis.

During the event, Prabowo personally thanked Puan for allowing smooth passage of the legal basis for Danantara’s creation at the House, which prompted applause from the audience. “Without [the House], today would not have happened. Thank you, Speaker of the House and [all lawmakers],” the President said.

The cordiality between Prabowo and Puan has reignited the public’s long-standing critique of the PDI-P’s “one foot in, one foot out” positioning with respect to the current administration.

With Hasto in KPK custody and more party members expected to join the second round of Prabowo’s “boot camp” retreat for regional heads, the PDI-P appears to be maintaining this balancing act, presenting itself as an opposition while still engaging with the administration. Unless other developments arise to challenge Megawati’s leadership, the nationalist party seems unlikely to commit fully to standing on the other side of the political aisle.