Jakarta. Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri has hinted that her daughter, House of Representatives Speaker Puan Maharani, is a potential successor to lead the party.

Puan did not deny this possibility when asked by reporters during the PDI-P national gathering at the Ancol resort area in North Jakarta on Saturday.

"Fingers crossed, God willing," she responded.

In her speech to open the internal gathering a day earlier, Megawati joked that she wanted to switch places with Puan, who she said has a better job with a lot of traveling.

"She recently asked my permission to travel to Bali, and prior to that she went to Mexico," Megawati said. "So I told her, 'What if we switch roles? I become the House speaker and you become the [PDI-P] chairwoman.'"

Political analyst Ahmad Khoirul Umam said Megawati’s remarks during the gathering were a “strong signal” to PDI-P members that she wanted her daughter to take over leadership.

"Megawati’s statement is a strong signal that she wants succession in the upcoming PDI-P national congress," Khoirul said.

"Not only is Puan her biological daughter, but she is also Megawati’s ‘ideological daughter,’ who in no way will betray her mother’s political agenda," he added.

Megawati, 77, has been leading PDI-P since the party was founded in October 1998 following the resignation of long-serving President Soeharto. She is also Indonesia’s first female president, having served from 2001 to 2004 after succeeding Abdurrahman Wahid, who was impeached by the parliament.

Puan, 50, is Megawati’s only child from her marriage with Taufiq Kiemas, who died in 2013. Megawati also has two sons from a previous marriage.

Puan was elected as the House speaker in 2019 after serving as the coordinating minister for human development and cultural affairs during President Joko Widodo’s first term.
 

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