Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – Former president and current Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chair Megawati Soekarnoputri will not run for president in 2014, her husband and PDI-P chief patron Taufiq Kiemas says.
"Ibu Mega will be 67 in 2014. She will be too old then to compete with the younger hopefuls. It would be better if she won, but if she was defeated again it would be more disappointing. This is the main reason the PDI-P will not nominate Megawati," Taufiq said Tuesday.
He said it was important for the party to regenerate smoothly and revitalize its programs in order to survive.
Megawati, who was a president from 2000 to 2004 replacing Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, was defeated in the 2004 and 2009 presidential elections.
Taufiq declined to name which PDI-P figures were being considered as suitable presidential and vice presidential nominees, but PDI-P secretary-general Tjahjo Kumolo and deputy chair Puan Maharani have been mentioned as an ideal pair to contend in the race.
The PDI-P would likely join forces with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's (SBY's) Democratic Party in the 2014 presidential elections, Taufiq recently announced to the surprise of many.
He said the PDI-P had intensified discussions with the Democratic Party regarding the next presidential election.
Taufiq said it was probably too early to discuss the presidential election as it was still three years away, but he said although the election was still far away, most major parties had begun making preparations and seeking prospective candidates.
Asked about certain political maneuverings to allow SBY to seek reelection through an amendment to the 1945 Constitution, Taufiq said he did not believe SBY would choose that path as it would be wrong and would negate the 1998 reform movement.
"I am sure SBY won't seek reelection for a third term because it is against the constitution," he said.
Aside from Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum, SBY's wife Kristiani Herawati has also been frequently mentioned as a potential figure to contend in the presidential race, but the party has declined to discuss the issue publicly.
The Democratic Party's deputy secretary-general Saan Mustafa said there was increasing support for Ani (Kristiani), but said his party would continue to concentrate on supporting the government in its programs for now.
It has been suggested that Ani may take National Mandate Party (PAN) chair Hatta Rajasa as her running mate, but PAN secretary-general Taufik Kurniawan declined to comment as the race was still too far away.
The Golkar Party has also begun preparing the ground for its chair Aburizal Bakrie to announce his candidacy. Aburizal's potential candidacy for president has encountered strong opposition due to the Lapindo mudflow disaster and tax scandals involving a number of his companies.