Megawati Reappointed as PDI-P Chair, Becomes Indonesia’s Longest-Serving Party Leader

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Megawati Soekarnoputri has been officially reaffirmed as Chair of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), securing her leadership for the 2025–2030 term.

Her confirmation took place during the party’s 6th National Congress, held at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center in Badung, Bali, on Friday (August 1, 2025).

Komarudin Watubun, head of the congress steering committee, confirmed that Megawati was formally reaffirmed, following her prior nomination at the party’s national working meeting (Rakernas).

“She was already selected at the last Rakernas, so this is just a formal confirmation. Rakernas is not the forum to elect a party chair,” Komarudin said at the congress venue.

Megawati’s reappointment comes with full support from the party’s rank and file.

“That’s why all cadres agreed to immediately reaffirm Megawati as party chair for 2025–2030, right after the congress opened. The agenda was supposed to run through the evening, but once we opened the first session, 100 percent of participants demanded her immediate reaffirmation. So it’s done. We’re moving on to commission discussions,” Komarudin explained.

With this confirmation, Megawati has officially held the top post in PDI-P since 1999.

Indonesia’s Longest-Serving Party Leader

PDI-P was officially established on February 1, 1999, with Megawati renaming it “PDI Perjuangan” (Democratic Party of Struggle) to distinguish it from the original Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), which had been mired in internal conflict.

From 1993 to 1999, PDI experienced a leadership split between Megawati and Soerjadi, leading to the eventual formation of PDI-P under Megawati’s leadership.

On the day of its founding in 1999, Megawati was elected as PDI-P’s first chair for the 1999–2003 term.

That means she has led the party for 26 years, from 1999 to 2025—a figure set to reach 31 years by the end of her new term in 2030.

This makes Megawati the longest-serving political party leader in Indonesian history.

Trailing behind her is Surya Paloh, who has led the National Democrat Party (NasDem) since January 25, 2013—a 12-year tenure.

Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia’s current president (2025–2029), ranks third. He has chaired the Gerindra Party since September 20, 2014, following the death of then chair Suhardi, giving him 11 years.

Dokumentasi Humas PDI-P.

Next Step: Appointing Party Leadership

As for Megawati, the daughter of Indonesia’s founding president Sukarno, her next move is to appoint the members of the party’s central board (DPP) for the 2025–2030 term.

“She’s already taken the oath and is officially chair. Now she just needs to form her cabinet,” Komarudin said.

The House of Representatives member emphasized that party leadership appointments are entirely at Megawati’s discretion as party chair.

“It’s up to Ibu Megawati. She’s the elected chair, so she’ll announce the new leadership when ready,” he added.

The 6th PDI-P Congress was held behind closed doors following a technical briefing event for all PDI-P members of Indonesia’s national and regional parliaments, which took place from July 29, 2025.