Jokowi-Prabowo Meeting Symbolizes Better Improved Relationship

Liputan6.com, Jakarta President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo met with his former rival, Prabowo Subianto who is now the Chairman of Gerindra political party. The rendezvous between the two leaders is viewed to be a positive one by the Democratic party. Both figures have been involved in a race towards getting the presidential seat and the situation was evidently tense during the election process in 2014. With Jokowi taking time to meet Prabowo, the society will view the both of them as mature and thus gaining the once lost public trust.

"The two figures are prominent, they are well known. I think the communication between the two is of paramount importance in trying to ease the tense that once had lingered the relationship between the two leading figures," the Democratic Party Secretary Didik Mukrianto said at the Indonesian Legislative Assembly building, Senayan, Central Jakarta, Friday (30/01/2015).

"Prabowo came to see Jokowi as he wanted to give an award relating to the Indonesian martial art pencak silat. Prabowo is now the head of Indonesian Pencak Silat," he explained.

Didik hopes the meeting between the two figures, apart from just giving an award for Silat , involves solution- finding endeavours for various political problems which now have dominated both local and international media headline.

 "We’ll wait, hopefully the meeting turns out well with them exchanging solutions and contributions that are positive for the political development of our nation,"Didik continued.

According to him, the President is now faced by many problems and he does not want to face this alone. He often seeks consolation and aid from other leading figures. In trying to resolve the KPK- Polri polemic, Jokowi sets up team 9 to help him decide, he also requested for the supreme advisory council to contribute by consistently give him iputs and now he met with his former rival to exchange thoughts and opinions.

"Jokowi wants to know the opinion of others, from all elements of the society, so that he could take those into account for his consideration. We appreciate his sincere gesture, carefully listened to what others say, and then to ask others to contribute in the solution seeking process as to the better improvement of KPK-Polri relationship," Didik explained. 

Similar to the Democratic Party point of view, a politican from Golkar Party, Tantowi Yahya views the meeting as a positively encouraging and promising one. The meeting between the two figures symbolizes the better-improved relationship as compared to last year during election. Not to mention, according to Tantowi, the positivity generated from the meeting between the two figures is also felt by the Red and White Coalition.

"A meeting is important between the two, this would help strengthen the relationship between Jokowi and the Red and White coalition as well. This would in turn help to boost popular support and gradual increase of trust that once had been lost," Tantowi said. (Akp/Ein)