This three-day congress that political analysts believe will pave the way for the reelection of Megawati Soekarnoputri, daughter of Indonesia's first president Soekarno, as the party's top leader was held at the Inna Bali Beach Resort.
During the opening ceremony, Widodo, Kalla, and Subianto sat in the same row as Megawati and Vice President-elect Ma'ruf Amin.
Vice President Kalla arrived at the venue of the national congress, attended by 2,172 participants coming from across Indonesia, at around 12:40 p.m. local time. He was accompanied by Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Minister Syafruddin.
With regard to the presence of Prabowo, former contender of Jokowi, PDIP's cadre, at the 2019 Presidential Elections, Chairman of the PDIP congress' organizing committee, I Wayan Koster, noted that Megawati had ordered her cadres to respect him.
When Prabowo attended the opening ceremony, the party's cadres should show respect and sympathy by applauding him, he stated on Wednesday evening.
Koster noted that the PDIP cadres were not allowed to disrespect any of the invited guests, including Prabowo, former contender of incumbent President Jokowi, PDIP's cadre, at the 2019 Presidential Elections.
On July 24, 2019, Prabowo had met Megawati at her Central Jakarta residence following his July 13 reconciliatory meeting with President-elect Jokowi.
Prabowo and Megawati, whose party is the main supporter of incumbent President and President-elect Jokowi, appeared happy during their meeting held at Megawati's house as was apparent in a photograph circulated by the PDIP to journalists.
Megawati enjoyed a round-table lunch along with her guests, her daughter Puan Maharani, her son Prananda Prabowo, and Cabinet Secretary, Pranomo Anung.
Megawati and Prabowo have known each other since long. Moreover, they had contested as the presidential and vice presidential pair during the 2009 Presidential Elections. During that time, their popular slogan was "MegaPro" in their endeavor to challenge the Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono-Boediono pair.
Prabowo's meeting with Megawati took place six days after he met with Gerindra's advisory council members on July 19 for talks on future steps following his reconciliatory meeting with Jokowi on July 13.
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Translator: Fransiska Ninditya, Rahmad Nas
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
