Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR) and daughter of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, Puan Maharani, has expressed her gratitude to President Prabowo Subianto for sending a bouquet of orchids on Megawati’s 78th birthday celebration on Thursday, January 23, 2025.
“Thank you to all parties, especially President Prabowo Subianto, who has paid attention on Ibu Megawati Soekarnoputri’s birthday,” Puan said at the parliament buildings complex as quoted by Media Indonesia on Friday, January 24,2025.
Prabowo was not present at Megawati’s birthday celebration, but was said to have sent a bouquet of planks and orchids.
According to PDIP Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto, the orchids are a sign of friendship between the two State figures.
Megawati and Prabowo’s relationship has recently been in the spotlight as the two are rumored to be meeting as a form of political reconciliation after rivalry in the 2024 presidential election.
In the 2024 contest for State leadership, PDI-P endorsed the Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud Md pair. Meanwhile, Prabowo as Chairman of the Gerindra Party ran along with Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the eldest son of Indonesia’s 7th president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
Prabowo’s absence from Megawati’s birthday celebration was due to his State visit to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the commemoration of India’s independence.
