Meeting Surya Paloh, Jokowi: I'm A "bridge"

President Joko Widodo gave a statement to reporters in Jakarta, Monday (19/2/2024). (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo said his meeting with the General Chairperson of the NasDem Party DPP, Surya Paloh, at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Sunday, was to become a "bridge" or bridge something. "This is only the beginning. Later when it is final, we will convey it. But actually I only become a "bridge", the most important thing is later parties," said Jokowi after the inauguration of the State Defense Center Hospital Commander General Sudirman and 20 TNI hospitals, in Jakarta, quoted by ANTARA Monday, February 19. He did not explain the details in question by becoming a "bridge". When asked about this, he only said that he wanted to be a "bridge" for all parties.

"The bridge is for everything. I want to be a bridge for everything, because of business, what business is it, political affairs are party affairs," Jokowi said on that occasion also said that his meeting with Paloh was an ordinary political meeting to talk about political issues. He felt there was no need to explain who invited or invited to the meeting. Most importantly, he said, the meeting would be beneficial for the national and state politics.," he explained. Previously the Presidential Special Staff Coordinator, Ari Dwipayana, confirmed that there was a meeting between Jokowi and Paloh, Sunday night. He explained that the meeting started from Paloh's request to meet with Jokowi.

In response to the request, he said, Jokowi allocated his time on Sunday night to meet Paloh at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta. Meanwhile, the Secretary General of the NasDem Party DPP, Hermawi Taslim, explained that Surya Paloh's meeting with Jokowi to fulfill the invitation to dinner. He said Paloh's presence at the Palace was limited to fulfilling the invitation, not asking for time to meet specifically.