Prabowo and Megawati Walk Arm-in-Arm; PPI Director Says Their Relationship Transcends Politics
The director of the Parameter Politik Indonesia (PPI) think tank, Adi Prayitno, has commented on a moment of warmth between President Prabowo Subianto and Megawati Soekarnoputri, chair of the Pancasila Foundation advisory board and Indonesia’s fifth president, during the Pancasila Day ceremony. Adi described the moment as evidence of the two leaders’ genuine closeness.
“This confirms that Prabowo and Megawati have a very good relationship even though theirs has been turbulent due to political competition since 2009 until now,” Adi said when contacted on Tuesday, 2 June 2026.
Adi stated that whilst Prabowo and Megawati have competed in Indonesian political contests, their good relationship transcends political matters. He noted that their warmth also demonstrates Prabowo’s embrace of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), which is the opposition party.
“Megawati and Prabowo were a ticket in the 2009 presidential election, then they competed against each other afterwards. But their relationship is quite good. This confirms that the relationship between Prabowo and Megawati goes beyond political competition,” he said.
“This is part of Prabowo’s politics of embrace and cooperation as president with Megawati as chair of the opposition PDIP. This divide appears to be merely formal, because in principle the two are good friends,” he added.
The moment of warmth between President Prabowo Subianto and Megawati Soekarnoputri occurred during the Pancasila Day ceremony. The ceremony was held in the grounds of the Pancasila Building at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in central Jakarta on Monday, 1 June. Vice President Gibran Rakabuming also attended the ceremony. Before entering the ceremony, Prabowo, Gibran, and Megawati received a briefing from ceremony officers inside the Pancasila Building.
Prabowo stood in front whilst Gibran and Megawati stood behind him. After receiving the briefing, Prabowo gestured to Megawati to walk alongside him. However, Megawati declined and invited Prabowo to walk first. Prabowo then walked towards the ceremony podium followed by Gibran and Megawati.
Prabowo served as inspector for the 80th Pancasila Day ceremony. In addition to presiding, Prabowo also delivered remarks after the main proceedings.
After the ceremony, another warm moment between Prabowo and Megawati became apparent. Prabowo was initially seen conversing with the tenth and twelfth vice presidents Jusuf Kalla and the thirteenth vice president Ma’ruf Amin. Megawati stood behind them. Prabowo then invited Megawati, Kalla and Ma’ruf Amin to walk. However, Megawati invited Prabowo to walk together with her.
Megawati appeared to link her arm with Prabowo’s. The two were seen walking together, laughing as they went.