Prabowo and Megawati's Handshake is Nothing Extraordinary, Says PDIP Legislator
Andreas Hugo Pareira, a member of the House of Representatives (DPR) from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) faction, believes that the moment President Prabowo Subianto held hands with former President Megawati Soekarnoputri is not surprising. He stated that the closeness between the two party chairpersons clearly indicates that their relationship remains positive, despite being on opposing sides during the 202uth election.
“(The moment Prabowo and Megawati held hands?) I do not see it as anything extraordinary,” said Andreas at the DPR, MPR, and DPD Complex on Tuesday, 2 June 2026. According to the Vice Chairman of Commission XII of the DPR, closeness between Megawati and Prabowo has always been evident whenever they are together, and such rapport is not always expressed through physical gestures like holding hands.
“We hope this warm and harmonious relationship provides benefits, particularly for the people. That is what is most important,” added the PDIP official in charge of Membership and Organisation.
The moment occurred following the Pancasila Day commemoration ceremony at the Pancasila Building in Jakarta, where the Head of State was seen holding hands with the PDIP Chairperson. The interaction took place as Prabowo was leaving the podium after serving as the ceremony inspector. During the moment, Prabowo had invited his guests, including Megawati, to walk ahead of him, but the daughter of Indonesia’s first President instead insisted that Prabowo lead the way. Megawati was seen jokingly pulling Prabowo’s arm, to which Prabowo responded by suggesting they walk side by side.
It is well-documented that Megawati and Prabowo were presidential and vice-presidential running mates in the 2009 election, a duo that was defeated by Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Boediono. In subsequent elections, they competed on opposing sides; in 2014 and 2019, Megawati supported Joko Widodo against Prabowo. Their rivalry continued through the 2024 General Election and Regional Elections (Pilkada), where the Ganjar-Mahfud ticket supported by PDIP lost to the Prabowo-Gibran duo.