Megawati Calls for Better Communication Among Parties in Ruling Coalition
Jakarta. Former President Megawati Sukarnoputri has called for better communication among pro-government parties after a meeting with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Monday (21/11).
Megawati, who is chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), met with Jokowi at Merdeka Palace in Central Jakarta to discuss rising political tensions ahead of next year's simultaneous regional elections.
She told reporters that she asked the president to establish a regular forum consisting of the leaders of the pro-government political parties – The PDI-P, Golkar Party, National Democratic Party (NasDem), National Awakening Party (PKB), United Development Party (PPP) and National Mandate Party (PAN).
"I requested him to restart the communication since we no longer have [Jokowi's] Awesome Indonesia Coalition [KIH] and two members of the [opposition] Red-White Coalition [KMP] have joined us," Megawati said.
She also deplored the decisions by pro-government parties to endorse different candidate pairs during the regional elections, saying they should strengthen the government also during the polls.
President Jokowi expressed his hope that the elections will proceed peacefully.
"The local polls will be staged in 101 districts, cities and provinces; not only in Jakarta. To lose or to win is normal. The most important thing is that the candidates respect each other," the president said.
He added that beside the regional election, he also discussed the current economic and social situation in Indonesia with Megawati.
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