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Jokowi plans to meet Yudhoyono after elections: Luhut
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Former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono speaks at a press conference in Jakarta on Feb. 1. The Democratic Party patron has rejected allegations linking him with Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) chairman Ma'ruf Amin. (Antara/Widodo S. Jusuf)
F
ormer president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s desire to meet with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has received a positive response from the palace, which intends to schedule a meeting between the two figures after the regional elections on Feb. 15.
Yudhoyono expressed his wish to meet during a press conference and the palace learned about it from the media. “Yesterday, [Jokowi] made plans to meet [Yudhoyono],” Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said on Friday as quoted by kompas.com.
Luhut said the plan could not be realized immediately but it would be more fitting if a meeting was scheduled after the regional elections.
“Perhaps meeting after the regional elections is better. We have to consider things,” Luhut said.
Luhut said the meeting would be arranged directly between the two parties without any middlemen. He said Jokowi needed to ensure stability and peace amid his efforts to improve the economy.
“I think the meeting is to ensure peace. If the situation is calm, whoever wins [the Jakarta election] is OK,” Luhut said.
“As I have said several times before, we will arrange the meeting but we will wait for a request [from Yudhoyono],” he said.
Vice President Jusuf Kalla said the meeting should be arranged after the regional elections. “After Feb. 15 is better to avoid political speculation,” Kalla said as quoted by kompas.com.
Yudhoyono said he wanted to meet Jokowi to clarify several things including accusations that he was behind large-scale rallies in November and December. (evi)
