Prabowo is serious about forming "The Presidents Club", said he will soon meet Megawati

The formation of an inter-presidential forum is beneficial if you dare to discuss basic matters and strengthen commitment to the spirit of the constitution.

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

A mural of the president of the Republic of Indonesia from time to time is depicted in the Curug area, Depok, West Java, Sunday (19/6/2022).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The President-elect for 2024-2029, Prabowo Subianto, is said to be immediately following up on his idea to form a discussion forum between the current president and a number of presidents from previous periods. Political communication with 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 will also be intensified to resolve political and personal relations between figures which many parties consider to be an obstacle to the formation of "The Presidents Club”.

Deputy Chairman of the Gerindra Party, Habiburokhman, said that the idea of forming The Presidents Club proposed by Prabowo Subianto, the elected president for 2024-2029, is not just a mere discourse. Prabowo, who is also the Chairman of the Gerindra Party, has often conveyed this to the political party cadres at least since 2014. For Prabowo, seeking the opinion of a former president is important to ensure the continuity of development.

"In fact, he (Prabowo) did not refer to (them as) former presidents, because presidents, right, have no post office, only the period. So, (they) must be asked for their opinion, because to confirm or ask about policies that have been taken, the most appropriate place is the top leader who formulated them in the past. So, this is very serious," said Habiburokhman when met at the Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Monday (6/5/2024).

KOMPAS/YOSEPHA DEBRINA RATIH PUSPARISA

Deputy General Chair Gerindra Habiburokhman answered questions from media crew at the Nusantara II DPR Building, Jakarta, Tuesday (23/5/2023).

Habiburokhman refutes the assumption of some parties that the idea of forming The Presidents Club will be hindered by political and personal relations between presidents that are not always smooth. For example, the 5th President of Indonesia, Megawati Soekarnoputri, is speculated to have difficulty discussing with the 6th President of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, due to their strained relationship since the Presidential Election (Pilpres) in 2004. Megawati is also predicted to have difficulty meeting with the 7th President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, due to differences in views on the 2024 Presidential Election.

Also read: Prabowo's “The President's Club”, Could it Be Realized?

Prospective relationships

According to Habiburokhman, currently, Prabowo's communication with the three figures is going well. Specifically regarding Megawati, there are many things that he cannot convey in detail to the public. However, he claimed that the relationship with Megawati and her party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), is good and even prospective.

I think national figures will put aside their egos and finally be able to meet each other.

"I see it beneficial for the relationship between the institutions of PDI-P and Gerindra, between Mr. Prabowo's people and Mrs. Megawati's people, and I firmly believe that in the not-too-distant future there may be a meeting between Mr. Prabowo and Mrs. Mega," said Habiburokhman.

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI

The Chairman of Gerindra Party, Prabowo Subianto, greeted the Chairman of PDI-P, Megawati Soekarnoputri, as he was leaving Megawati's residence on Jalan Teuku Umar, Jakarta, on Wednesday (24/7/2019).

He believes that there is ample time available to communicate with Megawati considering that the government led by Prabowo and his partner, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, will only begin on October 20, 2024, or around six months from now. During that time, communication with the spokespersons of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) will also continue.

So far, the Prabowo camp judges that the urgency of forming The Presidents Club is also recognized by the PDI-P because during Megawati's leadership from 2001 to 2004, there were many achievements and successes that need to be continued at present.

Regarding the sometimes rough relations between presidents, Habiburokhman said, the public should be optimistic that national elites can unite. Unity is crucial because it is not done for the interests of individual and respective elite groups, but for the interests of the nation and state.

"We are confident that the conscience of these leaders is the same when it comes to the interests of the nation and state, discussing the current situation, which is full of challenges, with international geopolitics causing tensions. I believe that national figures will set aside their respective egos and eventually be able to meet each other," said Habiburokhman.

PARTAI DEMOKRAT

The presidential candidate from the Indonesian Democratic Coalition, Prabowo Subianto, sought blessings from the 6th President of Indonesia, who now serves as the Chairman of the Democratic Party's High Council, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Prabowo visited Yudhoyono's residence in Cikeas, West Java, before heading to the General Election Commission to register as a candidate for the 2024 presidential election with his running mate, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the Mayor of Surakarta, Central Java.

Previously, the senior politician of PDI-P, Hendrawan Supratikno, stated that the idea of bringing together the presidents is a good one. This demonstrates an effort to lay the groundwork for creating a more mature and developed democracy. However, it takes a great spirit to discuss obstacles and deviations that occur in the administration of the state, as well as to commit to correcting them.

They are, right, presidents who have served. Of course we have to give it a more honorable place.

The formation of a presidential forum, according to Hendrawan, will also be beneficial if it dares to discuss fundamental issues and strengthen commitment to the spirit of the constitution. Because within the framework of the constitution, differences of opinion can lead to convergence and synergies in policy execution, making the implementation of strategic programs more effective. In that context, he believes that Megawati would certainly be willing to be part of the intended association.

"If it's just a gimmick or just an image, I don't think Ms. Mega is interested at all," said Hendrawan (Kompas, 6/5/2024).

There is no official form yet

Despite taking the topic seriously, Habiburokhman admitted that there is no final form of the institution yet. So far, they are open to any proposals, such as including this club in the President's Advisory Council. For Prabowo, he believes that the most important thing is to provide a forum for former presidents to provide input to the current president exclusively in power.

KOMPAS/PRIYOMBODO

A mural depicting the faces of Indonesia's first President Soekarno up to President Joko Widodo adorned the walls of a resident's house in the Petukangan Selatan area, Pesanggrahan, South Jakarta on Saturday (14/1/2023). The political temperature in the country is beginning to heat up ahead of the 2024 elections.

"They are presidents who have served. "Of course we have to provide a more respectful place," he said.

Separately, Chairman of the Central Leadership Council (DPP) of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) Al Muzammil Yusuf said that the existence of the presidential club initiated by Prabowo would be legal. As a forum for information, The Presidents Club can be a space for lobbying or informal meetings between elites. This is also natural because the elected president has the right to meet anyone and ask for input from various parties to run his government.

Also read: President Jokowi-Amien Rais Meeting, First Step for Reconciliation

However, party elites who are in the Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar camp for the 2024 presidential election are reminding that Indonesia already has a formal institution tasked with providing recommendations to the president, namely the President's Advisory Council (Wantimpres). The institution was established to replace the Supreme Advisory Council (DPA) that was built during the New Order era. The presence of DPA was considered less flexible in playing the role as a presidential advisor, so a new institution had to be formed.

Therefore, the establishment of formal institutions related to the president's club needs to be reconsidered. "(There's already) the Presidential Staff Office (Wantimpres) established under the authority of the President. Wantimpres differs from the Supreme Audit Agency (DPA), which previously was considered equivalent to the presidency institution and often referred to as a high state institution," said Muzammil.