Indonesia's president-elect Joko Widodo faces battle to win over his own party
Powerful, ambitious and with a sense of dynastic entitlement, Puan Maharani may threaten new Indonesian leader Joko Widodo from within
After winning Indonesia's closest ever presidential election, Joko Widodo now faces what could be his toughest battle yet - winning over his own party.
To do that, he must deal with Puan Maharani, the politically ambitious daughter of former president Megawati Sukarnoputri and a powerful figure in the Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDI-P). It's the party her mother heads and the bloc that propelled Widodo - known as Jokowi - into the presidential palace.
For some, there is a risk of a power struggle among the rank and file of Indonesia's most popular party that could muddle Widodo's agenda in parliament, where Puan is party leader.
"The leadership of PDI-P is still not united in their support," said one party insider of Widodo's backing. Like most party officials, the insider declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter.
"Puan does have followers … of course, they are threatened by somebody like Jokowi."
Puan is heir to a political dynasty that goes back to her grandfather and founding president, Sukarno. Widodo is the new face of national politics, seen by some as an upstart who threatens the grip of the established political elite.