The president said he would certainly approve Yudhoyono’s request. “I have repeatedly said that a time will be arranged for a meeting if there is a request sent [from Yudhoyono] to the State Secretariat,” he said.

Former president Yudhoyono on Wednesday expressed his intention to talk directly with his successor to discuss a number of issues, including his suspicion that the current government had illegally tapped his phone. Jokowi, Yudhoyono said, had been willing to meet him, but his inner circle had prevented him from doing so.

(Read also: Jokowi’s inner circle prevents him from meeting me: SBY)

The relationship of Jokowi and Yudhoyono hit a new low on Wednesday after the former president accused the government of conducting illegal wiretapping on him following a claim made by Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama that he had evidence that Yudhoyono had phoned a top Indonesian Ulema Council cleric to encourage him to issue a fatwa on the blasphemy allegations against Ahok.

Following a violent rally last year that Jokowi said had been exploited by his political rivals, Jokowi invited members of the political elite, including Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, to the State Palace to ease tensions.

Yudhoyono was the only political bigwig left out. (ary) 

Popular

RI, Australia strengthen partnership on taxing crypto assets

Analysis: Indonesia denies normalization with Israel to enter OECD

Citroen to produce electric cars in Indonesia