Jokowi-Prabowo Meeting

OMPAS/WAWAN H PRABOWO

Gerindra Party chairman politial rival Prabowo Subianto (center) waves as he congratulates President Joko Widodo on Saturday (13/7/2019) for his reelection to the 2019-2024 term in Senayan, Jakarta. The two rivals traveled aboard the MRT Jakarta from Lebak Bulus Station to Senayan Jakarta in their first meeting since the heated and divisive 2019 election in a gesture of reconciliation and unity in moving forward to develop the nation.

The meeting between Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Prabowo Subianto on Saturday was the first step to reuniting the polarized Indonesian people after the 2019 election.The two figures, who fiercely competed in the 2019 presidential election, met at the MRT Station in Lebak Bulus, South Jakarta, before jointly taking a ride to Senayan Station and then enjoying lunch at a mall.

The meeting at the MRT station looked informal, but as Prabowo said, had an important meaning. The meeting place, which was considered neutral and open to the public, took place in a friendly atmosphere, but still the two respected each other.

It is widely known that bringing the two figures together was not easy, especially because among supporters of the Prabowo-Sandiaga Uno pair, opinions were split between those supporting the meeting and others refusing it under the consideration of becoming an opposition, which by some of them was narrowly interpreted.

The meeting between Jokowi and Prabowo showed an attitude of statesmanship and their leadership, which prioritized the interests of the nation and the state. They gave a real example by putting the interests of the nation and the state before their personal ego.

Jokowi in his remarks after the General Elections Commission (KPU) declared him as the elected president for the 2019-2024 term said Indonesia was a big country that could not be built only by one or two people.

"I invite Pak Prabowo and Sandi to jointly develop this country." (Kompas, 1/7/2019).

Our challenges for the next five years don\'t seem light. Our economy faces a current account deficit and trade deficit; meeting energy needs depends on imports; even though the number of poor people has decreased, prosperity inequality remains a problem; infrastructure development shows results, but logistics costs have not dropped as expected; job creation, real sector investment and industrialization continue to be the challenges.

KOMPAS/WAWAN H PRABOWO

President Joko Widodo (left) smiles as Prabowo Subianto (right), his opponent in the 2019 presidential election, gestures for quiet on Saturday (13/7/2019) at the Lebak Bulus MRT Station in South Jakarta, where the two gave statements to the press. The two rivals met for the first time in public since the heated and divisive election, and hoped that their meeting would prompt their supporters to reunite and move forward together in building the nation.

External challenges are uncertainties due to trade wars between the United States and China and a number of countries. The geopolitical situation of the region is not always stable so that disruption continues to be a new normal situation.

We see the meeting between Jokowi and Prabowo as an effort to jointly find a way out to resolve various national problems. This meeting is just the beginning of the process of continuing to build Indonesia. The people are waiting for the realization of Jokowi\'s promises to become the president for all the Indonesian people, as well as an invitation by Jokowi and Prabowo that all must reunite, forget the polarization that manifested in the expression of kampret (little bats) and cebong (tadpoles) among supporters.

Prabowo as a presidential candidate in the last election and political party leader has stated his position: congratulating Jokowi to work, ready to help in the interests of the people and still be critical of the government as part of democracy, carrying out checks and balances.

OMPAS/WAWAN H PRABOWO

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo (fourth right) extends a hand as Prabowo Subianto (left), his opponent in the 2019 presidential election, salutes him on Saturday (13/7/2019) at the Lebak Bulus MRT Station in South Jakarta. Prabowo congratulated Jokowi on his reelection during the meeting – their first since the heated and divisive election, and which they hoped would be used as an occasion for their supporters to bury the hatchet and move forward together in building the nation.

We want corrections to be given in a constructive way, while those who are corrected can receive with a clear mind, an open heart and in a generous manner.