Hans David Tampobolon, Jakarta – Debate over whether the party will move closer to the ruling coalition looks to highlight the national congress of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) in Bali next week, but key event will focus on family affairs.
There has been speculation that Prananda Prabowo and Puan Maharani, the children of party chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, will contest a key post that could catapult them to the top of the party.
PDI-P executives speaking on condition of anonymity say Megawati wants the party to remain in the opposition, and has groomed Prananda, her son from her late first husband, to be the party's future leader.
Megawati's husband and party chief adviser Taufik Kiemas, who has called for the PDI-P to form an ideological alliance with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democratic Party, is said to favor Puan, his biological daughter.
"The Constitution states that there is no such thing as an opposition party in Indonesia," Taufik on Tuesday denied any rivalry between his stepson Prananda and his daughter Puan, who is also a legislator at the House of Representatives, for the party's future leadership.
Taufik, who is also the speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly, said he believed Puan and Prananda had an equal chance of being in the party's vanguard for the 2010-2015 tenure.
Taufik, however, refused to comment on the posts his children were seeking, instead telling reporters to "ask the children's mother". He said reports of bitter rivalry between his children were only intended to divide the party.
"It's an ugly tactic. Anyone is free to join the party's leadership structure, including both [Prananda and Puan]. Let's not frame this in a context of bitter rivalry," he said.
A potential family feud could result if Guruh Soekarnoputra, Megawati's brother, makes a bid to challenge his sister for the party's top post in the upcoming congress. Guruh, a renowned artist, has vowed to contest the race, saying he would restore the party's past glory.
Guruh has claimed support from many regional branches of the party.
Prananda, Puan and Guruh's standing in the party will be determined at the congress, scheduled to take place from April 6 to 9. Participants to the congress will also vote on whether to keep the party in the opposition or consolidate with the ruling coalition.
Taufik and PDI-P secretary-general Pramono Anung both claim that the party's grassroots constituents want the PDI-P to become a strategic and critical partner of the government.
Taufik said Tuesday that the country's political system did not recognize an opposition party.
"The Constitution states that there is no such thing as an opposition party in Indonesia," he said. "So, if we take the wrong stance, we will find ourselves on the wrong side of the Constitution."