Palace Says Jokowi Always Open to Meeting with Megawati
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Editor
13 February 2024 09:55 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Palace stated that President Joko Widodo or Jokowi is always open to meeting and staying in touch with national figures, including Megawati Sukarnoputri, the chairperson of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP).
“Moreover, it is for the good and progress of the nation,” said Coordinator of the Presidential Special Staff Ari Dwipayana via a short text on Tuesday, Feb. 13.
Ari also said that the initiative for the meeting could come from anywhere, and what is of paramount importance is that the bond among these national figures will be advantageous for the interests of the nation and the state.
“No meeting has been scheduled yet,” he confirmed.
The President’s relationship with the ruling party PDIP has reportedly frayed after his eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, is running for vice president with Prabowo Subianto in the upcoming presidential election.
Rumors have swirled that Jokowi has been persistently requesting a meeting with Megawati. The latest report suggested that he has solicited Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono or Sultan HB X to mediate the meeting.
Sultan HB X confirmed on Feb. 12 that he would be pleased to act as a mediator at the President’s request. “I will mediate, but it's up to the president. Do I have to facilitate it? If he can meet [with Megawati] by himself, it will be better,” Sultan told journalists in Yogyakarta.
As previously reported, three senior PDIP officials said that Jokowi hoped to forge a coalition with the PDIP to consolidate power if Prabowo-Gibran advanced to the second round of the presidential election against Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar. The PDIP endorsed Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud Md in this year’s election.
However, both PDIP Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto and the Palace denied issues concerning Jokowi’s request to meet with Megawati in the near future.
DANIEL A. FAJRI
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