TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Chairperson of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) Megawati Soekarnoputri praised President Joko Widodo or Jokowi at the closing ceremony of the party’s national meeting in Lenteng Agung, Jakarta, Thursday, June 23, 2022.

Megawati deemed Jokowi as an exemplary leader. She also said she did not make the wrong decision in choosing Jokowi as a presidential candidate from the PDIP back in 2014.

“A leader plays an important role in the life of the nation. I am grateful that I was not wrong when I declared Pak Jokowi [as a presidential candidate],” Megawati remarked.

According to the Fifth President of the Republic of Indonesia, many parties doubted her decision to endorse Jokowi in the 2014 presidential election.

She thus praised Jokowi as a strong and populist president. “I am grateful, we’re lucky to have a strong president. He likes visiting [traditional] markets, everywhere. He can lead,” she added.

As reported earlier, Jokowi was scheduled to visit Ukraine and Russia amid the ongoing conflict between the two countries.

Megawati expressed her wonder about the President who has a thin body yet is as strong as a bull, which is the ruling party’s symbol. “He had just come from IKN (in East Kalimantan) yesterday, now he wants to go to Ukraine, Russia, and continue to Saudi Arabia. It’s lucky for us to have a strong president,” she emphasized.

Megawati further reminded all that no one must forget that Jokowi was Megawati's chosen president for Indonesia.

DEWI NURITA

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