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TNI anniversary parades arms, political cliques
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Indonesian Navy personnel walk next to the National Monument (Monas) during the celebration of the 78th anniversary of the Indonesian Military (TNI) in Jakarta on Oct. 5, 2023. (AFP/Yasuyoshi Chiba)
The Indonesian Military’s (TNI) 78th anniversary celebrations on Thursday saw a veritable parade of political alliances for the 2024 general election on top of the military equipment put on display at the National Monument (Monas) complex in Central Jakarta.
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekanoputri arrived at the ceremony with her daughter, House of Representatives Speaker Puan Maharani, alongside former vice president and Golkar Party stalwart Jusuf Kalla and his wife Mufidah Jusuf Kalla, kompas.com reported.
Meanwhile, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo reportedly arrived at Monas with Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, the Gerindra Party chairman and presumptive presidential candidate.
This has sparked wide speculation about the political constellation ahead of next year’s election.
Read also: Jokowi, SBY meeting sparks speculation of Democrats joining cabinet
Jokowi, meanwhile, called on the TNI to remain neutral in the upcoming election.
A day before the armed forces parade, Kalla hosted the PDI-P’s Puan and party executive Said Abdullah at his private residence in South Jakarta. The three politicians discussed politics behind closed doors for about two hours over lunch.
