These so-called “political safaris” were unleashed as millions of Indonesians traveled back to their hometowns over the Islamic holiday for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020. The government had in previous years restricted the annual mudik (exodus) phenomenon for fear of uncontrollable viral transmission.

Some of the most popular potential candidates for the presidency based on recent opinion polls made trips to regions that political observers consider to be important for their showing in the upcoming elections, while others further down the pecking order started to make their own political moves.

Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto paid a courtesy visit to former president Megawati Soekarnoputri, the matriarch of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), at her home in Central Jakarta on the first day of Idul Fitri on May 2, just after returning from Yogyakarta Palace to visit President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

The defense minister was accompanied by close aides and relatives from both families, including Gerindra top executive Ahmad Muzani and House of Representatives speaker Puan Maharani.

Speaking to the press after the high-profile meeting, Muzani said: “The relationship between the PDI-P and Gerindra is actually an established one; a bond that is fairly close. The two figures [Prabowo and Megawati] have a good personal and familial relationship, so today’s meeting on Idul Fitri seeks to build on an already strong bond.”

Prabowo continued his trip to East Java on Wednesday to meet with senior clerics from the nation’s largest grassroots Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama, and make a stop at the tomb of Indonesia’s third president and erstwhile NU leader, Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid, to pay his respects.

He then went on to Central Java to meet a doyen of the Indonesian Military (TNI), Subagyo Hadi Siswoyo, before ending his trip in Yogyakarta at the private residence of Governor Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X.

Political analysts have noted that Prabowo’s activities of late have sent a strong signal that he may be looking to run again, despite his remaining mum about it. If confirmed, it would be Prabowo’s fifth attempt at running for office in the world.

Parameter Politik Indonesia executive director Adi Prayitno noted that Prabowo had lost votes in both Central and East Java during his previous run for president.

In February, Gerindra executives told Tempo that it was especially confident this time, while a survey from Indikator Politik Indonesia seemed to echo this sentiment, recording Prabowo as the most electable candidate at 22 percent in the upcoming polls.

In spite of the promising statistics, political researcher Arya Fernandes of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) was doubtful that Prabowo could sway the majority of the population — unless he is able to reinvigorate his political vehicle.

“This is his last chance. By 2029, the voting population will be completely different. He would be too out of touch to win them over,” he told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

Golkar, Dems flirt

​​Meanwhile, Democratic Party chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono visited the official residence of Golkar Party chairman Airlangga Hartarto in South Jakarta on Saturday, at the tail end of the Lebaran break. Both party leaders expressed an openness to exploring a potential political alliance together.

"The opportunity [for a coalition] always remains open,” Airlangga, accompanied by Agus, told reporters after the meeting. "The Golkar Party has once supported Agus’ father, so there is [some history],” he added, in reference to former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, whose coalition at the time Golkar was a part of.

Agus has appeared to be intensively seeking political support to form a capable coalition in the upcoming election. Over the past few months, both he and Airlangga have staged separate closed-door meetings with Nasdem Party chairman Surya Paloh to broach the possibility of teaming up.

Herzaky Mahendra, a Democratic Party executive, said on Friday that the party “remains in open contact” with the leaders of all political parties, in spite of growing internal support for Agus to run as a presidential candidate on his own terms.

Popular governors

On Monday, outgoing Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan attended Idul Fitri mass prayers with his family at the newly finished Jakarta International Stadium (JIS) – considered by some analysts as the crowning achievement of his governorship.

“This is a victory after enduring two Idul Fitri celebrations without togetherness or big celebrations because of our struggle in containing the pandemic,” Anies said on Monday, surrounded by thousands of Jakarta’s Muslim residents.

The mass event, seen on full display on the city administration’s social media accounts, featured an array of politicians, including National Mandate Party (PAN) patron Zulkifli Hassan, NasDem executive Ahmad Sahroni and senior Gerindra politician M Taufik.

“The excesses of the presidential election, the gubernatorial elections – we have to end it. [Let us] compete again in 2024,” said Zulkifli, whose party has not performed well in recent opinion polls. He also praised Anies for completing the stadium.

On Saturday, Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo visited the tombs of national heroes Diponegoro in Makassar and Sultan Hasanuddin in Gowa, South Sulawesi, before he was welcomed the following day at the residence of the provincial chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and head of NU’s Makassar branch, Anre Gurutta Haji Baharuddin.

The string of meetings served to show that presidential aspirants were trying to boost their electoral chances using face-to-face silaturahmi, which has a huge political impact in Indonesian politics, Parameter’s Adi said.

— Yvette Tanamal contributed to this report.