News Desk
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta / Sun, July 14, 2019
Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto (left) and President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo shake hands at the Lebak Bulus MRT station in South Jakarta on July 13. (JP/Seto Wardhana)
Political parties, either in coalition or opposition camps, have expressed their appreciation for the reconciliation of former presidential contenders Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Prabowo Subianto on Saturday. They hoped that the people would follow suit and end the polarization that emerged during the election.
“There is no more 01 or 02 camp. We have united under the name of Indonesia,” said Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) deputy secretary-general Eriko Sotarduga Sitorus in Medan, North Sumatra.
Meanwhile, chairman of the National Awakening Party’s (PKB) central executive board, Abdul Kadir Karding, hoped that it was time for Indonesians to unite and work together for the welfare of the nation.
“The meeting is surely heart-relieving. Two people who were previously seen as rivals have now become friends,” Karding said. Both the PDI-P and PKB are from the coalition camp.
Parties from the opposition camp, furthermore, had also seen the meeting as something to be appreciated as it could unite the polarized nation.
“PAN [the National Mandate Party] hopes that all elements in society can reunite and work hand-in-hand to resolve problems that might emerge in the future,” said the party’s secretary- general, Eddy Soeparno, as quoted by kompas.com.
A similar sentiment was expressed by the Democratic Party’s head of advocacy and legal team, Ferdinand Hutahaean, who said Jokowi and Prabowo had set aside their egos for the sake of the nation.
“The Democratic Party appreciates the move,” he said.
Both PAN and the Dems, however, have yet to declare their final decision on the coalition-opposition issue. However, they had previously sent strong signals that they would join the government, instead of staying in the coalition camp. (vny)
Apriadi Gunawan contributed to this story from Medan, North Sumatra.
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