Anies Meets SBY in Cikeas, Democrats Speak of Moment of Mutual Forgiveness

The Central Executive Board (DPP) of the Democratic Party has commented on the presence of Anies Baswedan at the halal bihalal event at the residence of the party’s High Council Chairman, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), on Saturday (21/3). Democratic Party Secretary General Herman Khaeron views Anies’s attendance as purely for maintaining ties. According to him, Eid is an appropriate moment for mutual forgiveness. “On the momentum of Eid al-Fitr, it is certainly the right time for Muslims to forgive each other and pray for goodness. The same applies to Mas Anies’s presence in Cikeas,” said Herman when contacted on Wednesday (25/3). Anies attended wearing a light green shirt. In an Instagram post by new Democratic Party cadre Merry Riana, Anies even appeared engaged in serious conversation with SBY and General Chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY). Senior Democratic Party politician Syarief Hasan describes Anies’s presence as purely for maintaining ties. The former Minister of Cooperatives in the SBY era stated that the moment of mutual forgiveness is good to be done among national figures during Eid. The same applies to Anies’s presence in Cikeas. “The Eid al-Fitr moment is certainly good for mutual forgiveness, especially among national figures. It is good as an example for the people that mutual forgiveness is in accordance with our religious teachings,” he said. Relations between Anies and the Democratic Party, especially with AHY and SBY, came under scrutiny after the 2024 presidential election, particularly after Anies-AHY failed to advance as a pair. At that time, towards the end of registration, Anies instead ran with PKB General Chairman Muhaimin Iskandar alias Cak Imin. Several Democratic Party politicians then issued harsh criticism towards Anies and expressed their disappointment. “The series of events that occurred is a form of betrayal against the spirit of change, betrayal against the Coalition Charter that has been agreed upon by the three political parties, and also betrayal against what was stated by presidential candidate Anies Baswedan himself who was given the mandate to lead the Change Coalition,” said the Democratic Party Secretary General at that time, Teuku Riefky Harsya.