Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) leader Puan Maharani has given a clue on the potential meeting between President Prabowo Subianto, who is also General Chairman of Gerindra Party, and PDI-P Chairwomen Megawati Soekarnoputri, on the special day for the country’s fifth president.
“It’s possible that President Prabowo Subianto will meet Ibu Megawati on her birthday on January 23, 2025. In shaa Allah (God willing),” Puan spoke to the media at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, as quoted by Antara on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.
She believed that both Prabowo and Megawati have the same hope to meet each other.
“All hopes are the same and I also believe that both of them must have the same hope to meet as soon as possible,” she said.
Secretary General of Gerindra Party, Ahmad Muzani, similarly signaled that the Megawati-Prabowo meeting could take place this January.
“As soon as possible, In shaa Allah (God willing),” Muzani said.
Puan, however, added that if the Megawati-Prabowo meeting was realized, it would not necessarily be the momentum for her party to declare whether or not it would join the Prabowo government coalition.
“The meeting does not need to have a political agenda, it can also be a gathering just to stay in touch,” she said.
Puan, who is also Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR), added that the celebration of Megawati’s 78th birthday would be held in a simple manner with only family members.
“The plan is that the birthday celebration will only be held among close relatives because it is still early in the new year. We, in the DPR, are working, and the government is also working. So it (birthday celebration) will be simple,” she said.
Executive chairperson of Gerindra Party, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, however dismissed the possibility that the Megawati-Prabowo meeting would be held on Megawati’s birthday on January 23, 2025.
“I heard that President Prabowo will have left for India on January 23rd ,” Dasco said on Monday, January 20, 2025.
He cited that Prabowo’s first trip to India after being inaugurated as President is held in response to the invitation by the Indian government.
