The Role Of Didit Prabowo In Creating 'Silaturahmi' Politics Of Two National Figures

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The name Ragowo Hediprasetyo Djojohadikusumo has attracted public attention, especially at the Indonesian political level. The figure who is familiarly called Didit Prabowo took advantage of the momentum of Eid al-Fitr to carry out a 'political gathering' by visiting the 5th President of the Republic of Indonesia Megawati Soekarnoputri, the 6th President of the Republic of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo.

Didit's move is like showing that President Prabowo Subianto's son is playing a unique role in the midst of the complicated relationship between Prabowo's government and Megawati and the PDI-P and Megawati and the PDIP ranks with Jokowi.

How not, before carrying out a political gathering, Didit also had time to show harmony in relations by inviting the sons and daughters of the first President to the 7th anniversary event. In fact, apart from the president's sons and daughters, Didit can also be well received by Megawati, SBY and Jokowi.

The Executive Director of PPI, Adi Prayitno, assessed that Didit's move was a form of political replica Prabowo to maintain communication with previous presidents. "Prabowo wants to show that he is not only close to Jokowi, but also maintains good relations with Megawati and SBY," he said, Monday, April 7, 2025.

According to him, Didit's political friendship' is a positive thing when viewed in the context of the unity and political consolidation of the Prabowo government, which wants to embrace all parties and put aside differences and intrigues in the past for the sake of the nation. Moreover, the discourse of Prabowo and Megawati's meeting which is still failing to take place even though the meeting is considered to determine the political situation of the government in the future.

The founder of the KedaiKOPI survey institute, Hendri Satrio, revealed that Didit's 'political friendship' seemed to emphasize that he was not only a figure or part of Prabowo's extended family, but a figure who was able to bridge parties who previously had a complicated relationship, including the relationship between PDIP and Jokowi with Prabowo and SBY.

He stated, in the midst of political tensions that often accompany the news about the relationship between Megawati-PDIP and Jokowi, as well as the relationship between Prabowo and SBY, Didit's steps to get close and well received by the three previous presidents show great potential in bringing Indonesian politics to a more inclusive and harmonious direction.

Manuver Didit can be seen as part of a political consolidation effort that wants to strengthen relations between Indonesia's major political elite, including involving parties that have been separated by ideological and political differences.

"Theoretically, the role played by Didit can be related to the concept of political power and politics of kinship. The politics of power is related to the control and influence possessed by individuals or groups in influencing important decisions in government," said Hensat.

In this case, he said, Didit took advantage of his position as the son of a Prabowo Subianto, to play a role as a bridge in Indonesia's senior interpolitical relations. This is because visiting the president before his father and being well received by them can be seen as part of an effort to build a broader coalition of informal power.

According to Hensat, family politics in the Indonesian context also often plays an important role, especially in political systems that still have a strong feel of polarase. Didit, with its very influential family background, has great potential to take advantage of personal relationships to build alliances and create space for inter-party collaborations that have different political powers. In this case, Didit is more seen as a figure who can relieve political tension, instead of directly engaging in tougher practical political battles," he added.

Didit's unique role is at least similar to the one carried out bytenuic Caesar or Octavianus in the Roman era who used his family ties and political networks to strengthen his position. Although not directly involved in major conflicts, Octavianus is known to have the ability to maintain ties with major political factions.

Through meetings with previous presidents and efforts to embrace all parties, Didit can be said to adopt a similar strategy, namely maintaining a balance of power and maintaining political relations that could benefit his father, Prabowo Subianto, as well as his main hope, for Indonesia's political future.

Denies There Is A Special Agreement

Director of Political Trias Executive, Agung Baskoro, said that although Prabowo and Megawati's meeting had not yet been implemented, Didit's steps could be seen as a bridge that opens up opportunities for more constructive dialogue. In the long term, this could open up opportunities for Prabowo and PDIP to join a more solid government.

According to him, with the existence and roles that are trying to be played, Didit seems to want to show that Indonesian politics does not always have to be fulfilled by conflicts or competitions that are not healthy and full of drama and intrigue.

If successful, this can pave the way for more stable political consolidation in Indonesia. Moreover, regeneration seems to be just a matter of time away. If Megawati's response is positive, the correlation with Jokowi and SBY is not impossible, it will run positively as expected. Coupled with relations between Puan Maharani, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, and Gibran Rakabuing Raka who currently have the power as Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia," explained Agung.

The chairman of the PDIP DPP, Puan Maharani, is optimistic that Prabowo and Megawati's meeting can be realized soon, after Didit's 'political gathering'. Moreover, Megawati also left greetings to Prabowo through Didit. "As soon as possible. I also conveyed greetings to Pak Prabowo, I hope he is always healthy and hopes that national politics will improve after Eid," he added.

The spokesman for the PDIP DPP, Ahmad Basarah, added that Didit's visit confirmed that Prabowo's relationship with Megawati was indeed fine. "Yes, I think it is a form of friendship between Pak Prabowo's family and the family of Mrs. Mega. Because Mrs. Mega has repeatedly said that the personal relationship between Mrs. Mega and Mr. Prabowo has been very good from the past until now. And it is proven by Pak Didit's friendship with his residence," he said.

In line with Puan, she also stated that the plan to meet Prabowo and Megawati was just a matter of time. "I think the friendship between Mrs. Mega and Pak Prabowo is just a matter of time. Hopefully the friendship and brotherhood between Pak Prabowo's family and Mrs. Mega's family will continue to occur forever," said Basarah.

To VOI Insights, a senior PDIP politician who asked not to be named denied the deal or agreement between Prabowo and Megawati during Didit's political gathering, including rumors of an agreement on who would replace Hasto Kristiyanto as Secretary General of PDIP.

"There is no agreement whatsoever (between Prabowo and Megawati). Of course, before the PDIP Congress, many issues arose, especially with Didit's visit to Megawati. But once again, there will be no deals whatsoever. Whoever the DPP management will be appointed, that is the right of the general chairman, and the political attitude of the party (to the government) will also be discussed at the congress," he said.