Jokowi and Megawati's meeting is a sign that Megawati would soon decide and declare PDI-P's presidential candidate.
By
SUHARTONO
·4 minutes read
JAKARTA, KOMPAS – President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo confirmed his meeting with Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri last Saturday at the State Palace had tabled, among other things, prospective presidential candidates for the upcoming 2024 presidential election. The meeting was also said to have led to an understanding regarding future leaders.
Jokowi confirmed what was discussed during that meeting when asked by journalists after attending an awards ceremony for COVID-19 management at the Finance Ministry’s Dhanapala building in Jakarta on Monday (20/3/2023). “Yes, it was roughly [about that],” said Jokowi.
However, President Jokowi was reluctant to mention which presidential candidates they had discussed. He urged the media to seek answers from Megawati. “What is clear is that I provided my perspective according to the numbers and data we have,” he added.
Based on Kompas’ follow-up at the State Palace, President Jokowi is most likely to vouch for Gerindra Party chairman and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo as candidates Megawati and the PDI-P should nominate for the upcoming election. This is because Jokowi is certain both have the potential to win, considering they each have high electability ratings based on polls from several institutions. Additionally, Jokowi is confident either Ganjar or Prabowo will carry on his legacy.
“The President didn’t mention one name. Two names were submitted and the decision was left up to Megawati,” said the source.
PDI-P Secretary-General Hasto Kristiyanto said Jokowi and Megawati’s discussion on presidential and vice-presidential candidates had been held behind closed doors and Megawati would later present the results. Megawati will also later convey her decision on which presidential candidate will be nominated.
The President didn’t mention one name. Two names were submitted and the decision was left up to Megawati,
When asked whether the names President Jokowi proposed were considered or accepted by Megawati, Hasto only said the President had simply conveyed the importance of maintaining the government.
He also said Megawati and Jokowi’s meeting was one between two PDI-P members and it would be inappropriate to ask if an agreement between the two figures had been reached. “It was a meeting between party members, which isn’t supposed to result in an agreed [candidate]. However, this meeting between party members did result in an understanding,” he said.
Bung Karno’s grave
Regarding Hasto’s visit to the grave of Indonesia’s first president Sukarno, also known as Bung Karno, in Blitar, East Java, on Sunday (19/3/2023) evening, which was a day after Jokowi and Megawati’s meeting took place, he dismissed speculations the visit hinted at PDI-P’s presidential nomination. Hasto only mentioned he had made the visit upon Megawati’s request. “It is almost the month of fasting. This is our tradition as the month of fasting approaches,” he said.
Megawati was unable to visit Bung Karno’s grave as she had to attend two events in Jakarta. “At the time, I also happened to be in East Java, so I was asked to represent her in visiting his grave, as she had done so in the past,” he explained.
According to Kompas’ notes, during the 2014 presidential election, Megawati invited Jokowi to visit Bung Karno’s grave on 13 Mar. 2014 and the day after that, Megawati declared Jokowi’s presidential candidacy. In the 2019 presidential election, it was decided Jokowi would run for reelection in a meeting with Megawati at the Batutulis Palace in Bogor, West Java, on Tuesday (20/2/2018).
Indonesia Political Parameters executive director Adi Prayitno regarded Jokowi and Megawati’s meeting as a sign Megawati would soon decide and declare PDI-P’s presidential candidate. If Jokowi really does vouch for Prabowo and Ganjar, and Megawati agrees, there is a high chance Ganjar will be nominated because Megawati previously stated she would have her own party member run for president.
According to National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) political expert Siti Zuhro, the PDI-P will have more time to socialize its nominated presidential candidate if it makes the declaration soon. She also said if the PDI-P nominated a candidate with high electability ratings, it may encourage other political parties to form an alliance with the ruling party. This includes parties that have already formed electoral alliances with other parties.
National Mandate Party (PAN) expert council chairman Dradjad Wibowo said there was still a chance for his party to side with PDI-P. The same goes for other parties in the Golkar-led United Indonesia Coalition (KIB).
“Our stance depends on the presidential and vice-presidential candidates PDI-P will nominate,” said Dradjad. (Z11)