President Prabowo and Megawati Meet and Hold Hands on Pancasila Birthday

A warm moment emerged during the ceremony marking Pancasila Day. President Prabowo Subianto held hands with fifth President of the Republic and Chair of the BPIP Steering Council Megawati Soekarnoputri.

The ceremony was held in the courtyard of Pancasila Building, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Central Jakarta, on Monday, 1 June. Vice President Gibran Rakabuming also attended the ceremony.

Before entering the ceremony, Prabowo, Gibran, and Megawati received a report from the ceremony officer inside Pancasila Building. Prabowo stood in front, whilst Gibran and Megawati stood behind him. After receiving the report, Prabowo gestured to Megawati to walk alongside him. However, Megawati declined and asked Prabowo to proceed first. Prabowo then walked towards the ceremony podium, followed by Gibran and Megawati.

Prabowo served as inspector for the 81st Pancasila Day ceremony. In addition to leading the ceremony, Prabowo also delivered remarks following the main proceedings.

After the ceremony concluded, a moment of warmth between Prabowo and Megawati became visible again. Prabowo was initially seen conversing with tenth and twelfth Vice President Jusuf Kalla and thirteenth Vice President Ma’ruf Amin. Megawati appeared to be standing behind JK and Ma’ruf Amin.

Prabowo then invited Megawati, JK, and Ma’ruf Amin to walk. However, Megawati invited Prabowo to walk together with her. Megawati appeared to hold Prabowo’s hand. The two were seen walking together, laughing.

Several members of the Red and White Cabinet attended the ceremony, including Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djamari Chaniago, Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights and Immigration Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno, and Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan. Also present were Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, Interior Minister Tito Karnavian, Investment and Downstream Sector Expansion Minister Rosan Roeslani, Labour Minister Yassierli, Village Development Minister Yandri Susanto, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Chair of the National Economic Council Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, and Commander of the Indonesian Armed Forces Agus Subiyanto.

Beyond the warm hand-holding moment, Prabowo also conversed with Megawati. Several other figures also participated in the discussion. The conversation took place in a room with the Red and White flag standing on either side, whilst the back wall was decorated with a row of photographs of figures who have previously led state institutions.

From photographs released by the Presidential Secretariat Bureau, Prabowo appeared to be seated in the centre of the room with Megawati beside him. Those present included cabinet ministers, heads of institutions, and former vice presidents.

On Prabowo’s side sat Gibran, thirteenth Vice President Ma’ruf Amin, Foreign Minister Sugiono, and State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi. On Megawati’s side appeared tenth and twelfth Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Chair of the Regional Consultative Council Sultan Bahtiar Najamuddin, and Chair of the People’s Consultative Assembly Ahmad Muzani.

They appeared to be engaged in relaxed conversation with expressions of familiarity. The specific agenda discussed in the meeting has not yet been disclosed.

PDI Perjuangan General Secretary Hasto Kristiyanto commented on the meeting between Megawati and Prabowo. According to him, the meeting represented an important opportunity for both to discuss the nation’s future direction. Hasto explained that Megawati’s presence at the ceremony reflected her capacity as Chair of the BPIP Steering Council. The ceremony was a follow-up to the government’s decision to designate 1 June 1945 as Pancasila Birthday.

“Certainly this is also an opportune moment for the nation’s leaders, the country’s leaders, government leaders to meet, such as between President Prabowo and Ibu Megawati Soekarnoputri,” Hasto told journalists at Lenteng Agung, South Jakarta, on Monday, 1 June.

“She is the fifth President who has much experience and also maintains a good relationship and personal closeness with President Prabowo,” he added.

Hasto expressed hope that the meeting between the two leaders would result in substantive discussion regarding national issues. “We hope that the meeting will address strategic matters concerning various directions for the nation and state in the future,” he said.

Gerindra Party spokesman Bahtra Banong responded to the warm moment between Prabowo and Megawati. He viewed the moment as reflecting the spirit of cohesion and solidarity amongst the nation’s leaders.

“I see this as something very positive. The nation’s leaders are demonstrating a spirit of cohesion and togetherness, particularly amid challenges arising from uncertain global geopolitical and geoeconomic dynamics,” Bahtra told journalists on Monday, 1 June.

The Deputy Chair of Commission II of the House of Representatives noted that Prabowo demonstrates a respectful attitude towards previous leaders. According to him, this represents one characteristic of Prabowo’s leadership, emphasising unity and mutual cooperation.

“We should also be grateful to have a leader like Pak Prabowo who consistently shows respect towards previous leaders. This is one of his distinctive leadership characteristics, namely prioritising unity, mutual cooperation, and the spirit of collective effort in building the nation,” he said.

Bahtra stated that the hand-holding moment between Prabowo and Megawati demonstrated that their relationship has been well-established for a long time. He noted that the two maintain strong emotional closeness and friendship.

“Moreover, this political communication through hand-holding also shows that the relationship between Pak Prabowo and Ibu Megawati has been good for a long time,” he said.

“These two national figures possess strong emotional closeness and friendship, so communication and relationship-building between them remains well-maintained for the sake of national and state interests,” he added.