The political landscape ahead of the February presidential election may change once again as key figures behind 2024 candidates seek allies for an expected runoff vote.

On Tuesday, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo sent Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri a large bouquet of orchids, known to be her favorite flower, for her 77^th birthday, amid an ongoing rift between the two powerful figures. The bouquet was accompanied by a happy birthday message.

Megawati celebrated the day with a close circle of friends and family members, including her daughter Puan Maharani, at her residence in Teuku Umar, Central Jakarta. Jokowi was not in attendance.

Relations between Jokowi and the PDI-P chair reached a low ebb after the President’s son Gibran Rakabuming Raka became the running mate of presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto on a rival ticket after a controversial court ruling enabled Gibran to run for vice president.

The PDI-P did not invite Jokowi to its 51^st anniversary celebration earlier this month, at which Megawati warned party members about “power hungry” leaders, which analysts saw as a clear jab at the President.

“The flower bouquet and the birthday message from Jokowi were a clear gesture of a political truce to open the way for possible political cooperation with PDI-P if the February election advances to a runoff,” analyst Agung Baskoro said.

Read also: Jokowi, PDI-P grow further apart ahead of election

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