Surya and Puan: Political Map Still Very Dynamic

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Chairman of the Nasdem Party, Surya Paloh, escorts PDI-P DPP Chairperson Puan Maharani to the vehicle after their meeting at Nasdem Tower, Jakarta, Monday (22/8/2022). The meeting between Puan Maharani and Surya Paloh discussed a number of political agendas ahead of the 2024 General Election.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The meeting on Monday between the general chair of the Nasdem Party and the chair of the Central Executive Board of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Puan Maharani, (22/8/2022), at Nasdem Tower in Jakarta carried a number of meanings. Symbolically, the meeting dismissed the rift in relations between the top leadership of Nasdem and the PDI-P, as well as implied solidity within the coalition of parties supporting the government.

The second PDI-P national working meeting at the end of last June gave a mandate to Puan to establish communication with all political party leaders.

This meeting also highlighted the still fluid political map leading to the 2024 general election.

The visit to Nasdem Tower also started Puan's political safari. The second PDI-P national working meeting at the end of last June gave a mandate to Puan to establish communication with all political party leaders.

Previously, on Friday last week, Surya Paloh met President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo at Merdeka Palace. The unscheduled meeting in the President's internal agenda took place behind closed doors for about 2 hours.

Presidential candidates

Puan came to Nasdem Tower with PDI-P secretary general Hasto Kristiyanto, PDI-P general treasurer Olly Dondokambey, and PDI-P Central Executive Board chair Bambang Wuryanto. They were welcomed, among others, by Nasdem secretary general Johnny G Plate, Nasdem deputy chair Ahmad Ali and Nasdem High Council member Lestari Moerdijat. When they met, Puan and Surya embraced. The meeting was held behind closed doors for about 2.5 hours and ended with a lunch.

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After the meeting, Surya Paloh said he and Puan had given each other views and corrections on contemporary matters regarding the welfare of the nation. When asked whether the meeting also mentioned the results of the National Working Meeting (Rakernas) of Nasdem last June, which raised three presidential candidates, one of whom was Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, Surya Paloh laughed.

He said that the Nasdem National Working Meeting had indeed placed Ganjar, a PDI-P cadre, as a presidential candidate in the 2024 presidential election. Besides Ganjar, there were Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan and Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Andika Perkasa. However, Surya further said, the political atmosphere would continue to develop and be very dynamic.

He said Puan's relationship with Nasdem would also have a bearing on the parties’ presidential considerations.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

The atmosphere when the Chairperson of the PDI-P DPP Puan Maharani and the General Chair of the Nasdem Party Surya Paloh gave a statement to reporters after their meeting at Nasdem Tower, Jakarta, Monday (22/8/2022).

"Personally, subjectively, I can't forbid Mbak Puan from wanting to [run in the 2024 presidential election]. With regard to Mbak Puan's arrival, I'll take a look too. If we have met like this, how can’t she enter the radar [as a possible Nasdem presidential candidate]. Let's see the next developments," said Surya Paloh.

Meanwhile, Puan said the meeting with Surya was not just a political gathering, but a get-together between a niece and her uncle. Of course, Puan added, she would also stay in touch with the leaders of other political parties to explore political cooperation and open communication spaces ahead of the 2024 General Election.

"Whatever the decision in the coming political dynamics, we must agree when we have to compete, when we have to work side by side for Indonesia," said Puan.

Puan believed that political dynamics would continue for the next 1.5 years.

Symbolism

Ahmad Ali said the meeting between Puan and Surya intended to show that there was no rift in relations between the extended family of PDI-P chair Megawati Soekarnoputri and Surya.

“Today, it is actually answered in a symbolic way and gestures between Pak Surya and Mbak Puan, they are very close. I think, of all the political party leaders who came, no one was treated like Mbak Puan," he said.

The two most senior politicians are both in the coalition of political parties supporting the government of President Jokowi.

Executive director of Charta Politika, Yunarto Wijaya, said the meeting between PDI-P and Nasdem at the Nasdem Tower was a good political gimmick because it could neutralize the issue of a relations rift between Megawati and Surya Paloh. The two most senior politicians are both in the coalition of political parties supporting the government of President Jokowi. The meeting likely sought to show that the government's strength was still solid.

The meeting was also part of Puan's political safari. Because Nasdem was the first political party that Puan called on, this was also an indication of Nasdem's political power. The Nasdem Tower witnessed the presence of senior political figures, such as the chair of the Gerindra Party, Prabowo Subianto, the chair of the Democratic

Party High Council, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and Puan.

"Nasdem is showing that it is the center of politics and the center for the gathering of political figures," said Yunarto.

Senior political researcher at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Siti Zuhro, believed that from a political perspective, the meeting could be translated as the stage of exploring an electoral alliance of political parties. This also showed that politics was dynamic, full of choices – not absolute and stagnant.

She said there was no definite electoral alliance yet. The National Awakening Party (PKB) and Gerindra were still open to opportunities for alliances with other political parties. Nasdem also continues to communicate with political parties. As for the PDI-P, which has already met the threshold to field a presidential candidate, it also still keeps opportunities open for coalitions with other political parties.

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.