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Camaraderie conceals tensions between PDI-P, NasDem: analysts
Megawati Soekarnoputri and Surya Paloh smile as a contest lurks ahead.
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President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo ('right') walks with NasDem party chairman Surya Paloh ('left') as Vice President Ma'ruf Amin follows during the NasDem congress and eighth-anniversary celebration at JIExpo Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, on Monday. (Antara/Indrianto Eko Suwarso)
As Megawati Soekarnoputri and Surya Paloh exchanged cordial gestures at the NasDem party congress on Monday, the reportedly strained relationship between the two seasoned politicians seemed on the mend. Analysts, however, have said tensions persist about future competition between the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and NasDem.
Megawati’s now infamous snub of Surya as they both attended a swearing-in ceremony of at the House of Representatives last month has sparked speculations about cracks in President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s coalition. The heterogeneous group of parties is led by Megawati’s Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).
But on Monday, Surya welcomed Megawati to the party congress venue in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, with her daughter and House Speaker Puan Maharani. Smiles abounded.
During his speech, Surya brushed off rumors of a spat, saying there was no dispute between him and Megawati. He called the former president his best friend.
The media mogul said there was no reason to question NasDem’s loyalty to Jokowi and the progovernment coalition.
