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Megawati skips Prabowo inauguration due to sickness, sends Puan instead
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Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri (center) and secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto (left) salutes the Red-and-White flag during the 79th Independence Day flag ceremony at the party's building in Jakarta on Aug. 17, 2024. (Antara/Monang Sinaga)
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ndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri sent party executive and her daughter Puan Maharani as her representative at the inauguration of president-elect Prabowo Subianto on Sunday morning, as Megawati could not attend due to a cold.
PDI-P secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto said Megawati was unwell after attending a series of events recently, including the awarding of a university doctorate to Hasto in Depok, West Java, on Friday and two visits abroad last month.
“As you all could see, she was wearing a mask during the awarding of my doctorate,” Hasto said in a press release on Saturday.
“The inauguration [of Prabowo] is a state ceremony. Therefore, as a form of respect, Puan, who is also the House of Representatives speaker, will act as the representative of Megawati and all PDI-P lawmakers,” he added.
The PDI-P is the largest party in the legislature and has remained noncommittal about joining the new government of Prabowo.
The PDI-P and Prabowo’s Gerindra Party had planned a meeting between Megawati and Prabowo before his inauguration, amid signs of thawing relations between the two sides, which were opponents in February’s general election.
The meeting is expected to offer a hint at how the PDI-P will position itself in regard to the incoming administration. But it has yet to come to fruition.
