“Although I often meet with Megawati, visiting each other, like this, is always very nice and should be established as a tradition,” Jokowi told reporters while having tea in the palace backyard with Megawati, who is also chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic party of Struggle (PDI-P).

Jokowi reminded people that the regional elections would be conducted in 101 regions, not just Jakarta, and he called on candidates to respect each other.

Recently, Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok”  Tjahaja Purnama, who has been nominated by PDIP, Hanura Party, Golkar Party and Nasdem Party to run in the upcoming gubernatorial elections, has faced protests by groups of people during his campaign.

On Nov. 4, hundreds of thousands people, led by conservative Muslim groups, staged a rally in front of the palace demanding the government to legally prosecute Ahok for alleged blasphemy.

(Read also: Jokowi leaves Yudhoyono out in the cold)

Recently, Jokowi has also had lunch with chairman of Gerindra Party Prabowo Subianto at the palace to discuss similar issues.

Gerindra has nominated former education and culture minister Anies Baswedan to run as a Jakarta gubernatorial candidate in the upcoming election.

Asked whether the President would invite former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), who is also a Democratic Party chairman, to have lunch at the palace, Jokowi said, ”we will arrange it later.”

The party has nominated SBY’s son Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono as a Jakarta gubernatorial candidate. (jun)

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