Megawati puts onus on party members

SURABAYA. Only three days after announcing that Joko “Jokowi” Widodo would be the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle’s (PDI-P) candidate in the July 9 presidential election, party chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri gave a speech on Monday in which she seemed to pass responsibility for the nomination decision onto party members. 

Though Megawati was firm in her written statement declaring Jokowi’s nomination — which was read aloud by her daughter, PDI-P deputy chairwoman Puan Maharani, on Friday — her words spoken to thousands of party members indicated doubt. 

“I have given what you [party members] had asked for [...] You had always demanded Bapak Jokowi [be nominated as a presidential candidate]. I have given that,” Megawati told the crowd at the Pancasila Sports Stadium in Surabaya, East Java, on Monday.

She called on party supporters nationwide to work hard to guarantee Jokowi’s victory in the election, saying they would be held accountable if he lost. Specifically, she told them, among other things, to actively and closely monitor their respective polling stations to prevent electoral fraud harmful to the PDI-P.

In her speech, Megawati repeatedly emphasized the significant role of party members and supporters in helping Jokowi win the election.

“How can he win the presidential race if you don’t do something to make him president?” she said.

“You all should be blamed if he loses the election because it would mean you did not take care of what I had given to you.”

Megawati and her entourage, which comprised executives of the party’s central board, arrived in Surabaya to celebrate the second day of the open public campaign period.

It was Megawati’s first speech since the open campaign season began on Sunday, when Jokowi launched his candidacy by visiting several historical buildings around Jakarta.

In Surabaya, Mayor Tri Rismaharini, who is also a PDI-P member, was among those accompanying Megawati during her visit to the East Java capital.

While interactions between Megawati and supporters were formal, the locals warmly interacted with Risma (the mayor’s nickname), who waved and smiled in response to cheerful greetings from a barrage of “Ibu Risma” shouts. 

There was also a moment when Megawati paused in the middle of her speech on the stage and together with other party executives took a moment of silence for the adzan (the call for prayer) to finish. 

Earlier in the day, when arriving at the Juanda International Airport, Megawati unexpectedly bumped into Nasdem Party leader Surya Paloh, who was also scheduled to deliver speeches and greet party supporters in East Java.

After announcing Jokowi’s candidacy last Friday, PDI-P now faces the question of who will run alongside the popular Jakarta governor. 

Though speculation is rife, PDI-P deputy secretary-general Hasto Kristianto has reiterated his party’s stance that it had yet to make a decision.

“We are still thoroughly discussing the matter. And we are having talks with several political parties. It’s a bit early to make the decision now,” Hasto said.