"This reconciliation is important to cool down the political temperature in the aftermath of the 2019 Presidential Elections," the Purwokerto-based University of General Soedirman's political analyst, Luthfi Makhasin, said on Thursday.
Commenting on the Prabowo-Megawati meeting, he said the Gerindra and PDIP leaders sent a clear message to the entire nation that the presidential election-related rivalry and competition had ended.
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"Now, it is time for all to work together to build a better Indonesia," Makhasin said, adding that the reconciliation was important to end a long-standing conflict that would only use up the nation's energy.
This evidence of a reconciliation would also be a good political education for the people because they would learn that the values of unity in diversity and nationhood go beyond temporary political struggles, he said.
By doing so, the unity and nationhood within the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia would get stronger, Makhasin said.
Prabowo Subianto met Megawati Soekarnoputri, the PDIP leader who is also Indonesia's fifth president, at her Central Jakarta residence on Wednesday following his July 13 reconciliatory meeting with President-elect Joko Widodo (Jokowi).
Subianto's meeting with Megawati took place six days after he had met with Gerindra's advisory council members on July 19 for talks on the future steps following his reconciliatory meeting with Jokowi on July 13.
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Translator: Wuryanti P, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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