PDIP's 50th Anniversary And Presidential Candidates

Megawati Sukarnoputri's speech at the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of PDIP at Jiexpo Kemayoran, Central Jakarta last week was much awaited. Everyone listened to the contents of the speech by the chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) until it was finished. The point awaited is who will be the presidential candidate that will be carried by PDIP.

Ahead of the anniversary (HUT) Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto and DPP Chair Puan Maharani revealed that there would be surprises. Many people interpret the surprise meant that Megawati will announce the name of the presidential candidate she will choose. In fact, everybody's wrong.

In her speech, Megawati said many things. However, not a single name was uttered regarding who the PDIP would carry out as a presidential candidate in 2024.

Megawati actually talked about women leaders. That women are not inferior to men. Regarding the name of this female figure, does it refer to Puan Maharani? No one can guess.

So far, the PDIP candidates who have appeared a lot are the Governor of Central Java, Ganjar Pranowo, and the Speaker of the DPR, Puan Maharani. In various surveys, their names often appear. Even Ganjar Pranowo is often in the top position. Even when he came to the anniversary commemoration, the president's shouts from Ganjar resounded.

PDIP politician Panda Nababan in the media said that the name of the presidential candidate that the PDIP would carry was already in Megawati's pocket. So it remains only to announce it. When it will be announced, only Megawati knows.

It's interesting who the PDIP candidate is. Because PDIP is the only party that can nominate a candidate without forming a coalition. PDIP is also a party that won two elections in a row. It could be, this also makes who will be carried waiting. Who will be Anies Baswedan's opponent, the candidate nominated by NasDem. Or Prabowo Subianto, the candidate supported by Gerindra. Two names that are often in the top positions with Ganjar in various political surveys.

Even though official registration has not yet been opened, almost all parties have announced the names they will carry to fight in 2024. In addition to the names above, Golkar, which forms a coalition with PAN and PPP, internally the party has nominated chairman Airlangga Hartanto to run. PKB has openly stated that it is pushing for its general chairman, Muhaimin Iskandar or Cak Imin. Meanwhile, the Democrats also nominated their general chairman, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono or (AHY).

Ganjar's name as one of the strong candidates to be carried by PDIP has actually resonated for quite some time. Whispers within the internal PDIP were also mentioned. Apart from Mrs. Maharani. But in PDIP the right to determine presidential candidates rests with the chairman. Perhaps the veteran politician and journalist Panda Nababan is right. The names of the candidates are already in Megawati's pockets.

Megawati Sukarnoputri as a seasoned politician certainly has her own considerations. He was known as a determined figure. Not easily influenced. He certainly considered all the possibilities that would happen. Including the possibilities of winning three elections in a row.

And it must also be remembered, as she herself said during her speech, Megawati is an intelligent woman with the title of professor and doctorate honoris causa from various universities. With all of these things, once again, of course, Megawati is very mature in considering which presidential candidate the PDIP will carry. Various input certainly heard. President Jokowi, as a party cadre and has experience in winning 5 elections, also seems to be one of the figures being consulted. Megawati will definitely nominate a presidential candidate with the greatest chance of winning. Because winning or losing the candidate that is championed has a big impact on PDIP. Of course, the PDIP wants the candidate it carries to win and make the PDIP score a 'hat trick'. Who's that? Is it the Governor of Central Java, Ganjar Pranowo or his biological daughter, the Speaker of the DPR, Puan Maharani? Or even another name that really makes a surprise? Well, just wait.