Indonesia President Prabowo’s first meeting with rival leader Megawati raises questions over PDI-P joining ruling coalition: Experts

“The relationship between Prabowo and Megawati has always been good and friendly … both leaders shared their thoughts on how to navigate the current global situation as Megawati has dealt with crises before so her experience is valuable,” Dasco added, describing the meeting as a warm-hearted Eid al-Fitr gathering. 

Prabowo’s predecessor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo reportedly expressed his approval of the meeting.

On Tuesday night, the former president said that a meeting between Prabowo and Megawati could lead to peace in the country’s politics.

“The meeting (between Prabowo and Megawati) is good, for the good of the country. A meeting is always better than no meeting,” he said, as quoted by Antara News.

Local media also reported that Prabowo gifted the former president a parcel containing fresh vegetables and fruit, including large tomatoes which are said to be Megawati’s favourite. 

The PDI-P chairwoman was reportedly among several recipients who received fruit and vegetable hampers as an Eid gift from the president.

Megawati’s PDI-P party is the country’s largest party in parliament and is the only major party that has not joined Prabowo’s Advance Indonesia Coalition.

Talks about the meeting have been stalled several times, including earlier this year after Megawati’s trusted aide, PDI-P secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto, was arrested for bribery by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). Megawati’s party regarded the arrest to be politically driven.

Senior Fellow and Coordinator of the Indonesia Studies Programme at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute Julia Lau told CNA that the meeting had “long been planned” and a significant gesture was when Prabowo’s only son Didit Hediprasetyo visited Megawati on Eid al-Fitr on Mar 31. 

“(It is) a sign of respect and likely conveying the desire for the Prabowo-Mega meeting,” she told CNA. 

Some analysts also posited that the meeting confirmed that both parties have their own respective interests, with Prabowo hoping to strengthen his coalition while Megawati sought to ensure the upcoming PDI-P congress would unfold in her favour.

“Prabowo knew very well that he was unable to govern with a great power like PDI-P as an opposition to his administration,” Visiting Fellow from ISEAS, Made Supriatma, told CNA.