Not An Exploration Of The Presidential Election, Gerindra Says Prabowo Met Megawati First Because He Was Considered A Senior

Megawati and Prabowo Subianto meeting (Photo Via ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The meeting between the Chairperson of the Gerindra Party, Prabowo Subianto, and the Chairperson of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) Megawati Soekarnoputri on the day of Eid led to a number of speculations. The two are rumored to be forming a coalition in the upcoming 2024 presidential election.

Moreover, Megawati became the second figure to be visited on Prabowo Subianto's Lebaran safari, after President Joko Widodo.

In response to this, the Daily Chair of the Gerindra Party DPP, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, revealed the reason Prabowo met Megawati first than a number of other figures. According to Dasco, Prabowo wants to respect Megawati as a senior figure.

"So far, the relationship is good. So that Eid gathering is held before going to other figures, to Mrs. Mega first," said Dasco to reporters, Tuesday, May 10.

Dasco denied that the visit of the Minister of Defense (Menhan) to Megawati's residence was motivated by political exploration ahead of the 2024 presidential election contestation.

"I think, for the presidential election, it is still too early. Because what is being done is only halal-bihalal and Eid al-Fitr gatherings," he said.

It is known that after meeting Megawati on the 2022 Eid safari, Prabowo went to several clerics in East Java. Among them, the leader of the Walisongo Islamic Boarding School in Situbondo Kiai Kholil As'ad and the Head of the Jember Al-Qodiri Islamic Boarding School Kiai Ahmad Muzaki Syaha.

Then, Prabowo kept in touch with the Governor of East Java, Khofifah Indar Parawansa.

Next, Prabowo made a pilgrimage to the grave of the 4th President Abdurrahman Wahid or Gus Dur, and met members of the Presidential Advisory Council (Wantimpres) Luthfi bin Yahya alias Habib Luthfi and Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X.