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A step toward reconciliation
Overdue compliments: President-elect Joko âJokowiâ Widodo (right) jokes with his former rival in the presidential race, Gerindra Party chief patron Prabowo Subianto (left), in Jakarta on Friday
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Overdue compliments:: President-elect Joko âJokowiâ Widodo (right) jokes with his former rival in the presidential race, Gerindra Party chief patron Prabowo Subianto (left), in Jakarta on Friday. Prabowo congratulated Jokowi, who paid him a courtesy visit at his residence for the first time since the latterâs election win. » PPP p2 » Asia-Africa p11 (JP/DON) (right) jokes with his former rival in the presidential race, Gerindra Party chief patron Prabowo Subianto (left), in Jakarta on Friday. Prabowo congratulated Jokowi, who paid him a courtesy visit at his residence for the first time since the latterâs election win. » PPP p2 » Asia-Africa p11 (JP/DON)
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span class="inline inline-center">Overdue compliments: President-elect Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo (right) jokes with his former rival in the presidential race, Gerindra Party chief patron Prabowo Subianto (left), in Jakarta on Friday. Prabowo congratulated Jokowi, who paid him a courtesy visit at his residence for the first time since the latter's election win. » PPP p2 » Asia-Africa p11 (JP/DON)
President-elect Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo met on Friday with his former rival in the July 9 presidential election, Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto, ending four months of political tension that threatened to detract from the inauguration of Jokowi.
The meeting took place at the former home of Prabowo's father Soemitro Djojohadikoesoemo, on Jl. Kertanegara in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta.
The meeting took place only three days after Jokowi held a meeting with Golkar Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie. Jokowi said after his meeting with Aburizal that he would continue meeting with leaders of political parties in the Red-and-White Coalition before his inauguration on Oct. 20 in an effort to break the political deadlock.
Speaking after the meeting, Prabowo, who celebrated his 63rd birthday on Friday, denied that the reason it took so long for him to meet with Jokowi was because he held a grudge against the former Jakarta Governor.
Prabowo later made a statement that could be read as a first step toward reconciliation
'I am sure that, deep inside, both of us want the same thing for the nation. That is why today I want to call on the party I lead, all my coalition members and my supporters to support Jokowi and his administration. In politics, fierce rhetoric is normal, but in the end, all of us just seek security and prosperity for our country. Differences in political views should not divide us,' Prabowo said.
Prabowo, however, was quick to add that his support was not without reservations.
'We will criticize his administration when necessary and he told me that was what a democracy needs,' he said.
Prabowo also hinted that there would be another meeting.
'I initially wanted to meet in Hambalang. But he promised that he would visit me in Hambalang after he becomes president. When that happens, I will ask him to sing a song,' Prabowo said, referring to his private residence in Bogor, West Java.
- Prabowo and Jokowi hold first meeting after four months of rancor
- Meeting aimed atending political deadlock in nation
- Jokowi promises to visit Prabowo's home in West Java to try out helicopter
Jokowi responded with a touch of self-deprecatory humor to Prabowo's request.
'I can't sing. But probably before January we will visit him in Hambalang. I want to try out Pak Prabowo's helicopter,' Jokowi said with a grin.
Prabowo was, however, non-committal when asked if he would attend Jokowi's inauguration.
'Actually I have to leave the country tonight on business. But I promised him I would come if I can finish up by Sunday night,' he said.
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician Aria Bima, who brokered the meeting, said that the rendezvous was aimed at easing the political tension, 'particularly in Senayan,' he said, referring to the House of Representatives.
Executives from parties in the Red-and-White Coalition and the coalition led by the PDI-P praised the meeting.
'It's a great move. It's happened at a time when the public had begun to believe we can't sit together and talk. The meeting between the two figures is crucial to igniting positive energy and to cool the rising political temperature ahead of the inauguration on Monday,' said Tantowi Yahya, Golkar's deputy
secretary-general.
Meanwhile Hanura Party central executive member Susaningtyas Nefo Handayani Kertopati said the meeting would not change the Red-and-White Coalition's opposition stance.
'I hope it can create a fair checks-and-balances mechanism for Jokowi's administration for the better future of the country,' he said.
Political analyst Philips J. Vermonte from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said the meeting was an ideal moment for Jokowi to gain recognition from Prabowo supporters, who have persistently refused to acknowledge Jokowi's victory in the July 9 election.
Philips said that the meeting, and future meetings between Jokowi and other party leaders in the Red-and-White Coalition, could bring a swift end to the current political standoff.
'The meeting will not lessen the determination of the Red-and-White Coalition to become an active opposition at the House, but we can live with that,' he said.
