Presidential Club Ideas Innovative, Although Doubtful, Can Disburse Megawati's Relations With SBY And Jokowi

Students pass in front of the murals of the President of Indonesia from Soekarno to Joko Widodo, in Cikutra, Bandung, West Java. (Between/Novrian Arbi)

JAKARTA The idea of the Presidential Club initiated by the elected president Prabowo Subianto caused pros and cons. Megawati Soekarnoputri, Joko Widodo, and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's relationship was highlighted.

Political observer from Al-Azhar University Indonesia Andriadi Achmad said it was not easy to unite the three national figures considering they had a cold relationship.

"Being a problem is not easy to unite between Megawati, SBY, and Jokowi in one carriage," Andriadi said when contacted by VOI.

Megawati and SBY's relations have not been good since the 2004 Presidential Election (Pilpres), although it was reported that they melted when Puan Maharani and Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono met ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

Likewise, Megawati and Jokowi's opposing relationship is even said to have been completed some time ago.

Although it sounds foreign to most Indonesians, the Presidential Club is actually not new. The concept, such as the Presidential Club, has been implemented in a number of countries. The goal is that the experience of previous leaders is integrated to support existing governments and provide valuable experiences in overcoming critical issues.

The United States has The Presidents Club, which, although not a formal club, allows former presidents to consult each other and work together on humanitarian projects and provide support during the national crisis.

Nelson Mandela, former South African President took the initiative to form The Elders, consisting of a dedicated group of former world leaders to tackle global issues such as conflict, injustice, sustainable development, and human rights abuses.

While in Spain it has Club de Madrid, which consists of more than 100 former world leaders. The club is committed to strengthening democracy globally through dialogue, mediation, and policy consultations.

In South Korea, there is the Presidential Archives which focuses on preserving history and public education. This club has a function as a place to store historical documents and policy discussion forums involving the former president.

The 10th Vice President and 12th Jusuf Kalla assessed that the Presidential Club that Prabowo wanted to form was a positive idea. He also admitted that he had been invited to join Club de Madrid.

"Of course it's good, positive. In the world there is. So Club de Madrid is an association instead of the president and I was also asked to be a member. I attended that several times. So there is indeed a club like that," said JK at the Grand Sahid Jaya Hotel, Central Jakarta, Tuesday (7/5/2024).

"In America there is, even though it is not official. The former President of America who is still alive always meets once a year to provide suggestions. That's good, not only in Indonesia, the whole world exists, the name is Club de Madrid, and in America that happens, so there are suggestions according to the time. give advice, "he continued.

The proposal to form a Presidential Club is referred to as an innovative initiative aimed at gathering former Indonesian Presidents. Andriadi Achmad appreciated this idea because it was considered an interesting concept.

But on the one hand Andriadi predicts that the Presidential Club's idea will not be easy to realize. The relationship between the two former presidents, Megawati and SBY, as well as the former presidential candidate Jokowi, was the cause.

Since the 2004 presidential election, the relationship between Megawati and SBY has heated up, even until now there has never been a common ground, even though it melted when Puan and AHY stayed in touch ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Likewise, the relationship between Megawati and Jokowi is currently not okay, since crossing the 2024 presidential election, the good relationship between Megawati and Jokowi has been completed.

"The idea of forming a Presidential Club is an idea to unite all former presidents who have served to help and support Indonesia's future development direction," said Andriadi.

"However, it is not easy to unite Megawati, SBY and Jokowi in a carriage. Therefore, it is rather difficult to unite between Megawati, SBY and Jokowi, the heated relationship between Megawati and Jokowi and SBY seems to be still burning and still difficult to cool," he added.

Jusuf Kalla, when asked about the possibility of joining Megawati in the Presidential Club initiated by Prabowo, was reluctant to provide certainty.

"Ah, just ask Mrs. (Megawati), I don't know," he said.

The idea of forming the Presidential Club was previously expressed by spokesman Prabowo Subianto, Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak.

"The Presidential Club is only my term, not an institution. Pak Prabowo's essence is that the former presidents can regularly meet and discuss national strategic issues. So that their national relations are maintained and become an example for all of us," said Dahnil to reporters, Friday (3/5).

Danhil continued, Prabowo hopes that the Indonesian leaders will be united, harmonious, and friendly to think about and work for the benefit of the people.