"All problems must be settled through dialogue and that is why Ibu (Mme) Megawati has conveyed to the President her intention to meet with other political parties that support the government," the secretary general of the Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle, Hasto Kristiyanto, said here on Monday.
Megawati Soekarnoputri met with President Jokowi, who is also from the PDIP, in her capacity as the fifth president of Indonesia.
They discussed strategic issues including support to preserve the four pillars of nationhood and statehood, namely, the Unitary State of Indonesia, the Pancasila state ideology, the ideal of Unity in Diversity and the 1945 Constitution.
They also discussed current national and international political situation, including the implementation of the simultaneous elections in 101 regions in the country slated for February 15 next year.
Hasto accompanied Megawati along with Coordinating Minister for Human Development Puan Maharani, who is Megawatis daughter, following talks between the two leaders.
"Regional elections are a part of the routine democratic process to find the best regional leaders. So, these should not be linked with various political agendas as it would cause restlessness. We support peaceful, fair and democratic elections. Let the people make their own choices according to their conscience," Hasto noted, quoting Megawati.
President Jokowi pointed out that such consultation as happened that afternoon is an effective way of finding solutions to various problems being faced by the country.
"We also discussed macro-economic issues in the context of the national political situation as well as social matters," the President disclosed at a press conference after the meeting.
He said he and Megawati discussed developments in all regions, not only Jakarta, as far as the planned elections are concerned.
He underlined that to win or to lose in an election is common, and called on all candidates to honor and respect each other for the sake of nation building.
"Indeed, the political temperature usually rises ahead of any election, be it for choosing city mayors, district heads or provincial governors and their deputies," he observed.
President Jokowi had recently met with national political leaders as well as national security chiefs following a huge demonstration in the capital city on November 4 that led to a clash between the security forces and some of the demonstrators at the end of the protest.
Demonstrators have demanded immediate legal action against Jakarta gubernatorial election candidate Basuki Tjahaja Purnama for his allegedly blasphemous statement.
Some Moslem organizations plan to continue their protest with another demonstration on December 2 to demand that Basuki be detained after he was recently named suspect in the case by the police.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
