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Hamengku Buwono X confirms offer 'to bridge' talks between Jokowi, Megawati
Jokowi parted ways with the PDI-P, his main backer during his two terms in office, after the party announced Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo as its presidential candidate.
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Yogyakarta Governor Hamengku Buwono X, who is also the reigning Sultan of Yogyakarta, addresses an audience of hundreds of traders during an event in 2017 at Yogyakarta’s Beringharjo Market. (The Jakarta Post/Bambang Muryanto)
Yogyakarta Governor Hamengku Buwono X has confirmed he is willing to host a meeting between President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chair Megawati Soekarnoputri as the rift between the two leaders over the presidential election continues to widen.
Military observer Connie Rahakundini Bakrie revealed the information at a meeting on Monday before the governor, who is also the reigning Sultan of Yogyakarta, confirmed his involvement.
"That is correct, but I am waiting for [approval from] the President. I will bridge [their meeting], but the timing depends on the President. I'll wait and accept without hesitation if he needs me," governor Hamengku Buwono said.
Jokowi parted ways with the PDI-P, his main backer during his two terms in office, after the party announced Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo as its presidential candidate.
The President is a PDI-P member and has never explicitly said he was quitting the ruling party, but he is seen to have made a series of political maneuvers to support the candidacy of Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, who chairs the Gerindra Party.
Despite public criticisms of his apparent meddling with the presidential race, Jokowi has rallied behind the Onward Indonesia Coalition (KIM) of pro-government parties, including Golkar and the National Mandate Party (PAN), the electoral alliance backing the third presidential bid of Prabowo, who has vowed to continue Jokowi’s legacy.
When the Constitutional Court issued a controversial decision last October that allowed Jokowi’s son Gibran Rakabuming Raka to contest the 2024 general election, Prabowo picked Gibran as his running mate. This turn of events disappointed the PDI-P, which later accused Jokowi of departing from the party line in pursuit of his own interests in clinging to power.
