By: Moch. Irfandi)*
The competition from two prominent Indonesian Presidential candidates in the Indonesia general election 2014 did not make the relationship between those candidates become less. Not only Mr. Jokowi but also Mr. Prabowo looked very close and communicative when President Joko Widodo visited the residence of Prabowo in Hambalang, Bogor on 31 October 2016. This meeting was not the first time since Mr. Jokowi sworn in as The President of Indonesia. In that meeting Jokowi was accompanied by Coordinating Maritime Minister, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.
As we all know, Prabowo is The Chairman Gerindra Party who had been a political rival of Jokowi at presidential election 2014.
Speaking to reporters, Jokowi did not disclose details about his discussion with Prabowo. He only mentioned that the meeting was conducted over lunch, interspersed with laughter. Jokowi reveal that there was no rivalry between him and Prabowo. Jokowi said that rivalry just exists in the election and that was democracy.
After a great rivalry in the presidential election, said Jokowi, Prabowo and himself work together to build the country not only from one side, but also from all over. He reemphasized that democracy cannot be enemies. However, according to Jokowi, the rivalry could return to the peak point later in 2019, when the presidential election held.
As a reminder, Jokowi and Prabowo were fought in the 2014 presidential election Paired with Jusuf Kalla, Jokowi scooped 70,997,833 votes or 53.15 percent. Meanwhile, Prabowo paired Hatta Rajasa got 62,576,444 votes (46.85 percent). Jokowi sworn in as President on October 20, 2014.
Gerindra Party Chairman, Prabowo admitted, as the opposition, the Gerindra party often cast a harsh criticism of the government. However, in his criticism of the government in the end is for the benefit of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia and Gerindra has an obligation to always provide critique and feedback to the government.
Prabowo has mentioned the competition between him and Jokowi in the 2014 presidential election. Prabowo asserted that the rivalry is over and now he has a good relationship with Jokowi.
Both Jokowi and Prabowo have the same opinion of democracy where the rivalry is normal in politics and elections, but that must be considered and taken care of is the relationship and good communication after the general elections for struggling the interests of the Indonesian people.
)* Indonesia’s Polical and Economy Observer