SBY-Jokowi Meets At Bogor Palace, PDIP Considers It Less Likely To Join The Cabinet

PDI-P Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto when giving a statement at the PDI-P DPP office, Jakarta, Tuesday (3/10/2023). (ANTARA/Narda Margaretha Sinambela)

JAKARTA - PDI-P Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto responded positively to the meeting of the 6th President of the Republic of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) with President Joko Widodo at the Bogor Palace, West Java, Monday (2/10). He considered the meeting between SBY and Jokowi as a visit to the gathering.

"The meeting was assessed by the PDI-P as part of a good tradition of friendship carried out among leaders," said Hasto at the PDIP DPP office, Jakarta, quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, October 3.

When asked about the possibility of their meeting to discuss political consolidation, Hasto said that SBY and Jokowi had their own way.

For this reason, according to him, the meeting could not be interpreted as an invitation to join the government carriages in Jokowi's cabinet. He stated that it was unlikely that the Democratic Party would enter the cabinet at the end of Jokowi's leadership period.

The reason is, every political party prefers to focus on preparing plans for the 2024 presidential election.

"President Jokowi's government-bearing party is already very good and all are committed to continuing to provide support for the legacy of President Jokowi and K. H. Ma'ruf Amin," he explained.

Previously, senior Democrat Party politician Syarief Hasan said it was too early for his party to talk about the cabinet at this time.

"It's too early to talk about the Kab (kabinet)," said Syarief Hasan when contacted via text message in Jakarta, Tuesday (3/10).

This was conveyed by Syarief when asked for his response and explanation at the meeting of the Chairman of the Upper House of the Democratic Party Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono with President Joko Widodo at the Bogor Palace, West Java, Monday (2/10) evening.

When asked whether there was an offer of cabinet ministerial seat to the Democratic Party at SBY's meeting with Jokowi, he only said that his party would better be outside the cabinet.