Prabowo-Megawati Meeting, Maruarar: Elite Politik Indonesia Ber Jiwa Negawan

Former PDIP politician Maruarar Sirait (Nailin In Saroh/VOI)

JAKARTA - Politician Maruarar Sirait assesses that the political elite in Indonesia has a high spirit of statesmen. This is in response to the discourse of a meeting between Prabowo Subianto as president-elect in the 2024 presidential election as well as General Chairperson of Gerindra with PDIP General Chair Megawati Soekarnoputri.

The man who is familiarly called Ara supports the plan to meet the two political figures. According to him, the meeting was only a matter of time.

"If I actually hope that all of our national figures have a high spirit of statesmanship. For the time being, I think it's just a matter of time for communication, friendship with each other," he said when met while attending the open house at the official residence of the Minister of Investment/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Bahlil Lahadalia in the Kuningan area, South Jakarta, Wednesday, April 10.

Maruarar explained that all elites in Indonesia also know each other.

"So I think everyone has a good communication relationship. I think all super elites in Indonesia have a statesman spirit and already know each other but when asked what will be discussed, I don't know because it depends on the two figures," he said.

Ara also explained the steps taken by President Joko Widodo or Jokowi when he won the presidential election over his rival Prabowo, especially during the 2019 election.

"Pak Prabowo is certainly like Pak Jokowi. Pak Jokowi has competed very closely with Pak Prabowo twice, but instead did something very rare, not even in Indonesia, in the world. Where there is such a fierce competition, two rivals, but Pak Jokowi actually embraces Pak Prabowo as one part with him, namely the minister of defense who is very strategic," said the former PDI-P politician.

He explained that Jokowi's attitude in embracing Prabowo was an example in knitting unity that could be imitated.