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Democrats, PDI-P mend ties, Puan-AHY meeting on the horizon
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House of Representatives Speaker and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) executive Puan Maharani (second left) and Democratic Party chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (second right) talk to the press after a meeting on Aug. 7, 2020. (tribunnews.com/Chaerul Umam)
Despite a long history of bad blood, the opposition Democratic Party and the largest party in the governing coalition the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) appeared to have made concrete steps toward mending ties with each other as senior representatives of the two parties met over the weekend.
“I just met with PDI-P secretary-general [Hasto Kristiyanto] and faction leader Utut Adianto. We had fried chicken in Blok M, Jakarta, and the meeting went well,” Democratic Party secretary-general Teuku Riefky Harsya said in a written statement on Sunday.
Among the topics of discussion was hashing out the details for a proposed meeting between Democrat chairman Agus Harimuriti Yudhoyono and Puan Maharani, the daughter of PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri.
“We’re thankful as the planned meeting between Mbak Puan and Mas AHY is a breath of fresh air for Indonesian politics and will set a good example for the younger generation,” Riefky said, referring to Agus by his nickname.
The Democrats and the PDI-P have a history of being diametrically opposed to each other, with the chilly relationship dating back to the split between Megawati and Agus’ father, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. A member of Megawati’s Cabinet during her presidency, Yudhoyono quit his position in 2004 and went on to defeat Megawati in the ensuing presidential election.
Since this perceived betrayal, the two parties have rarely been able to see eye-to-eye. The PDI-P played an opposition role during the entirety of Yudhoyono’s 10-year presidency, and the Democratic Party has done the same during PDI-P member President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s two terms in office.
With the PDI-P putting forward Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo as President Jokowi’s successor in the 2024 presidential election and the Democrats rallying behind opposition figure former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan, the two parties look set to continue this rivalry for the next election cycle.
