Jakarta – Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri now faces a bigger task than merely to determine her party's political stance, since her decision could mean she has to face her own husband, Taufik Kiemas.
Megawati has been known to firmly believe – especially in the light of her years of broken relations with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono – that playing as an opposition and not joining the next Cabinet is the best option for her party.
PDI-P deputy secretary-general Agnita Sinedekane on Tuesday reaffirmed Megawati's stance, saying the chairwoman was likely to maintain the party's role in opposition to Yudhoyono.
However, Taufik, who is also PDI-P's chief patron, has said repeatedly he would allow any member of his party to become a minister in the next Cabinet should Yudhoyono offer them the posts.
Relations between Taufik and Yudhoyono have apparently been improving lately, with the latter's Democratic Party, holding most seats in the House of Representatives, endorsing Taufik to become the chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).
The possibility of a PDI-P executive being nominated for a ministerial post was also recently hinted by Democratic Party secretary-general and House Speaker Marzuki Alie, who said PDI-P Secretary-General Pramono Anung would likely spend less than a month in his position as House deputy speaker, since he could be moved to "another post" immediately.
Taufik was also seen at the House in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday, while his party held an internal meeting in Lenteng Agung, South Jakarta. When asked why he was not at the meeting, Taufik said "I have been asked that question too many times, I refuse to answer".
Speculation also circulated Wednesday that one of the items on the PDI-P meeting agenda was the possible dismissal of Pramono. However, Agnita told The Jakarta Post no plans to dismiss anyone from the party had been raised at the meeting.
PDI-P executive Gayus Lumbuun said the party was discussing its orientation for party legislators at the House.
Megawati's daughter, Puan Maharani, said there was no friction between her parents, and that the family, which had inherited the blood of Sukarno [Indonesia's first president]', was "solid".
"I also want to make it clear that any statement from anyone claiming to be the spokesperson for the chairwoman is not official," she said. "Official party statements can only be issued directly by either the chairwoman or the secretary-general."
Puan also said none of the party executives, including Pramono, had offered themselves to Yudhoyono to be selected as ministers.
Meanwhile, Pramono said the party's final stance would be decided within the next three to five days. Pramono also confirmed there was intense political communication between his party and the Democratic Party. "Honestly, communication is getting better," he said.
"The results of the improved communications can be seen in the success of Pak Taufik being elected MPR chairman," he said.
Political analyst from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Siti Zuhro, said the current turmoil within the PDI-P had been caused by the party's own fragmented condition. "If we use the family as a metaphor, people would not cheat on their spouses if their marriage was solid," she said. (hdt)