SBY Wants Jokowi-Prabowo Meeting Made Public

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Democrat Party Chairman Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono or SBY asked that the meetings between political elites after the 2019 general election be made open to public. He said that it would be a good thing, and would educate the public as well as reduce tensions and prejudice.

"There is no need to hide and go through the back door because it can ignite slander," SBY said in a video played during his party's Ramadan fasting break at his home in Jakarta, Monday, May 27.

SBY used the meeting between his son, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono or AHY, with President Joko Widodo or Jokowi as an example.

Soon after the 2019 election was over, AHY recorded two meetings with Jokowi on May 2 and May 23.

Read: SBY Explains Ethics and Importance of Accepting Electoral Losses

In addition, SBY requested that Jokowi and Prabowo Subianto meet immediately. He said the two candidates have huge bases of supporters, and a post-elections meeting between the two is crucial.

"In this meeting, no agreement must be made."

Based on the manual calculation by the Elections Commission (KPU), Jokowi and his running mate Ma'ruf Amin won the presidential election with 85.6 million votes, or 55.5 percent. Prabowo Subianto and his running mate Sandiaga Uno bagged 68.65 million votes or 44.5 percent.

However, Jokowi cannot be named president-elect yet because Prabowo's camp is suing him to the Constitutional Court, accusing his opponents of rigging the elections.  

Jokowi, SBY said, must respect Prabowo's steps. Nevertheless, he continued to encourage a meeting between them.

"If a meeting is not possible in the near future, there are still more beautiful days ahead."

TEMPO