If their political discussion over bakwan (a vegetable fritter snack) wasn’t strong enough of a signal of a potential reconciliation between PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri and Gerindra Chairman Prabowo Subianto, then Megawati’s invitation to Prabowo to attend an important PDI-P event certainly is.
PDI-P, the head of the ruling coalition and the party of President Joko Widodo, is currently holding a national congress in Bali, where its expected to be announced that Megawati will remain the leader of the party.
But the focus of the congress has turned to the expected attendance of Prabowo, who lost April’s presidential election to Jokowi.
In fact, PDI-P has made Prabowo a VIP guest of the congress, with direct instructions from Megawati to make the former general feel welcome.
“Do not say words that may offend our guests. Especially when an esteemed guest, Prabowo Subianto, is attending. Nobody can jeer, say ‘boo’ [at Prabowo],” Bali Governor I Wayan Koster and the head of the congress’ organizing committee told PDI-P cadres yesterday evening, relaying Megawati’s instruction, as quoted by CNN Indonesia.
“We have to be sympathetic and give Prabowo a warm round of applause.”
The congress begins today and goes until Saturday. Party leaders from the ruling camp, as well as President Jokowi, his current Vice President Jusuf Kalla and Vice President-elect Ma’ruf Amin are all expected to attend.
The rivalry between PDI-P and Gerindra can be traced all the way back to 2009, when Megawati ran for her second term as president with Prabowo as her running mate. She was eventually defeated by Democratic Party leader Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), who went on to serve for two terms.
Relations between PDI-P and Gerindra turned extremely sour by 2014, during which time Megawati was said to have reneged on her promise to have her party back Prabowo’s presidential bid in return for his backing her in 2009. Instead, she nominated then-Jakarta Governor Jokowi, who defeated Prabowo five years ago and again in a rematch this year.
But since Prabowo’s defeat was made legally official last month, both parties have reportedly been in discussion to reconcile, possibly bringing Gerindra into the government coalition.
