The 'Happy Eid Coalition' Meeting Was Attended By Elite PPP-PDIP-Gerindra Responded To By PPP

JAKARTA - Acting (Plt) General Chairperson of PPP M Mardiono responded to a meeting between PPP Deputy General Chair Arsul Sani and a number of political party elites outside the United Indonesia Coalition (KIB). The meeting was known through Arsul's personal social media on Monday, March 13.

In the joint photo uploaded on his Instagram story, it appears that Arsul is with the Chairman of the PDIP DPP Djarot Saiful Hidayat, Deputy Chairperson of the Gerindra Party Habiburokhman, and Chairman of the PKB DPP Cucun Ahmad Syamsurijal. Arsul also added a statement with the words 'Happy Eid Coalition (KLB)'. "In my opinion, the meeting of Mr. Arsul, Mr. Djarot, was just an ordinary meeting. Like if I met with other politicians when we were at a coffee shop," said Mardiono to reporters at the PPP DPP, Central Jakarta, Monday, March 13.

According to Mardiono, meetings between politicians, including for discussions, are common. He considered Arsul's meeting with other political party elites was part of a friendship discussion.

"Those are friendship discussions, so together with politicians, they meet at coffee shops, so it's normal," he said.

However, continued Mardiono, if the discussion about politics leads to the presidential and vice presidential candidates, there will be a special place and moment.

"But then the discussion about politics that leads to whether it is a presidential candidate, vice presidential candidate, then leads to the implementation of elections, yes of course that has a place. But also through discussions that are not as formal as that, we need to need in politics," explained Mardiono.

As for the photo caption, namely 'Happy Eid Coalition (KLB)', Mardiono said it was only a momentum ahead of Ramadan. He said, between his party, PDIP, PKB, and Gerindra, they must unite in common.

"Well, the Eid coalition is indeed soon we will be Eid, the Takbir is the same. So we have to be a coalition, a coalition takbir, we have to. If possible, there should be no difference anymore. There should be no difference anymore," said Mardiono.