PDIP Hopes Prabowo-Megawati Meeting Becomes a Pivotal Moment for Strategic Discussions

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) hopes that President Prabowo Subianto’s meeting with former President Megawati Soekarnoputri during the Pancasila Day ceremony will serve as a pivotal moment to discuss strategic national directions. ‘This also presents a valuable opportunity for national and government leaders to meet, such as between President Prabowo and former President Megawati Soekarnoputri,’ said PDIP Secretary-General Hasto Kristiyanto at the PDIP Party School in South Jakarta on Monday, 1 June 2026. ‘As the fifth president, she has extensive experience and a strong personal relationship with President Prabowo, and we hope this meeting will tackle strategic issues regarding the nation’s future direction,’ he added. During the ceremony, Megawati attended alongside several national figures as part of the state event presided over by Prabowo. However, Hasto stressed that the meeting took place within the context of a state ceremony organised by the Pancasila Ideology Development Agency (BPIP). ‘This is a state ceremony conducted by BPIP,’ Hasto stated. On the same occasion, Hasto also dismissed suggestions that Megawati’s presence at the ceremony was linked to a political realignment of PDIP towards Prabowo’s government. He explained that Indonesia’s constitutional system does not recognise the concept of an opposition as seen in other countries. ‘We do not have an opposition role in our country’s constitutional government,’ Hasto said. He instead recalled Prabowo’s earlier statements emphasising the importance of critical functions and checks and balances in democracy. ‘Indeed, in President Prabowo’s speech which I quoted earlier, he acknowledged PDIP’s role as a balancing force. Prabowo stressed during a DPR plenary session that democracy requires checks and balances and critical feedback,’ Hasto said. At this year’s Pancasila Day commemoration, besides Megawati, former Vice-Presidents Jusuf Kalla (10th and 12th) and Ma’ruf Amin (13th) also attended. Meanwhile, former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (6th) and former President Joko Widodo (7th) did not attend the ceremony. Several members of the Red and White Cabinet also attended, including Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Djamari Chaniago, Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan, National Economic Council Chairman Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto, and National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo.