IO, Bali – Megawati Soekarnoputri has again been elected by acclamation. The board of DPD and DPC throughout Indonesia confirmed her as the General Chairperson of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle for 2019-2024. Megawati’s inauguration as PDIP Chairperson was carried out at the Fifth Congress of PDIP in Denpasar, Bali, Thursday (8/8).
Megawati said she should read out her responsibilities as the Chair for the 2014-2019 period. However, the procession was not carried out since all DPD and DPC delegates throughout Indonesia had agreed to reelect her as General Chairman.
“Apparently it is not necessary because all the envoys state that my responsibility is accepted by acclamation and already decided,” Megawati said.
Megawati seemed unsurprised when she was again asked to lead the PDIP. At the previous National Coordination Meeting in Jakarta, said Mega, 34 provincial DPDs in Indonesia had proposed that she be returned. “Their proposal was to ask me to return as a chairperson,” she said.
Megawati expressed her gratitude for the support given by PDIP cadres. She states that she hopes to carry out the duties of her position as best as possible.
Megawati took the oath of office before thousands of participants of the PDI-P congress V, who had come from all over Indonesia. Megawati’s oath-taking was overseen by the Chairperson of the congressional interim session from the Riau Islands DPD, Soerjo Respationo. He was accompanied by the Chairman of DPD Jambi, Eddy Purwanto, the Chairperson of East Java DPD, Kusnadi, the Chairperson of Central Java DPD, Bambang Purwanto, the Chairperson of Solo DPC, FX Hadi Rudyatmo, and the Chairperson of Bali DPD, I Wayan Koster.
Following is the Oath of Office read out by Soerjo and repeated by Megawati.
“A promise of office. One, that I, appointed as the General Chair of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle in 2019-2024, will be completely loyal and obedient to:
a. Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution
b. PDI Perjuangan’s Articles of Association
c. PDI Perjuangan’s charter and struggle program and all applicable Party provisions.
“Two, that I, will uphold the honor, dignity and discipline of the Party, and will always prioritize the integrity of the Party, the success of the Party’s struggle program rather than personal interests.
“Three, that I will maintain the Party’s secrets which, by nature, I must keep confidential
“Four, that I will try to solve all Party problems with a principle of kinship.
“Five, that I, will work honestly, fairly, diligently and passionately in the interests of the Party, state and nation,” Megawati said as quoted in a written statement, Friday (9/8/2019)
In the political arena, Megawati is a very experienced politician. She was the Chairperson of the PDI in 1996. Then in 1999, she founded the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) as well as serving as the Chairperson.
Megawati then became the fifth president of the Republic of Indonesia, replacing Abdurrahman Wahid (or Gus Dur). (dsy)