PDI-P softens stance on Risma

JAKARTA. Realizing that at least three major political parties have openly seduced Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini to become one of their potential candidates in the July presidential election, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri met with the mayor at her residence on Sunday.

Apart from revealing Megawati’s meeting with the one of the party’s most popular members, the party’s secretary-general, Tjahjo Kumolo, on Tuesday also tried to do serious “damage control” over Puan Maharani’s, Megawati’s daughter, criticism of the mayor. Puan had called on Risma, as she is affectionately called, to stop involving outsiders in the fray between her and her deputy, Wisnu Sakti Buana. 

Tjahjo said that during the meeting, Megawati had succeeded in mending ties between Risma and her deputy. Risma had protested the appointment of Wisnu, a PDI-P politician who was also behind a failed attempt to oust Risma from her post a few years ago.

Tjahjo told reporters that the dispute between Risma and Wisnu had been settled as both had been invited by Megawati to her Jl. Teuku Umar residence in Central Jakarta, to resolve the matter.

“It’s true. [Risma and Wisnu] have met [Megawati],” Tjahjo confirmed on the sidelines of a plenary meeting at the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

Risma had initially raised the issue with Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi, who promised to launch a probe into the matter and ensured that Wisnu’s appointment could be annulled if irregularities were found.

Fifty-two-year-old Risma, who was recently named Mayor of the Month by the International City Mayors Foundation, previously discussed the matter with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono via telephone, during which the President encouraged her to be strong and not give up her mayoral post despite pressure for her to do so. 

The Gerindra Party, the Golkar Party and the Democratic Party have openly tried to persuade Risma to abandon Megawati and join them.

“Everyone is allowed to choose what party is the best for them, but each of us must be ethical and inform the party about it,” Puan teased Risma on Monday.

Tjahjo, a member of House Commission I, which oversees defense, foreign affairs and information, declined to comment further, shortly adding, “Let her [Risma] explain the result [of the meeting].”

Megawati has not announced whether she will endorse Jakarta Governor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo as a presidential candidate despite mounting pressure from party members across the nation. Nearly all pollsters have found that Jokowi is a voter favorite and that the party will garner more votes in the April legislative election if Megawati announces Jokowi’s candidacy before the polls.

Senior Golkar politician Priyo Budi Santoso proposed that the House summons Gamawan and authorities from East Java, including the governor to discuss Risma’s dispute with her deputy.

The plan was strongly opposed by the PDI-P. “It’s too much [to bring the issue to the House]. We have settled the problem. Bu Risma had already met with Bu Mega. Everything is clear. This is a family problem,” said legislator Arif Wibowo.

In a separate interview, Priyo insisted that as one of the House’s leaders, he had the authority to do so.

“Should I not say anything regarding the matter after she [Risma] publicly expressed her burden? It would be wrong to do so considering I am mandated to oversee regional administration affairs,” Priyo said.