Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and First Lady Iriana met former president Megawati Soekarnoputri at the latter's residence here on Thursday, after Eid al-Fitr last weekend.

Soekarnoputri, who currently serves as chairperson of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), was accompanied by PDI-P Secretary General Hasto Kristyanto during the meeting.

"Mrs Megawati received the visit of President Jokowi and the First Lady, as we are recently celebrating Eid al-Fitr. They gathered at Mrs Megawati's residence today," Kristyanto stated.

The secretary general noted that the post-Eid gathering, locally known as halalbihalal, is a distinctly Indonesian way to celebrate Eid al-Fitr.

The halalbihalal, a gathering where Muslims convey Eid greetings and extend apologies to one another, was initiated by national founder and first president Soekarno and Nahdlatul Ulama leader Abdul Wahab in 1948 to strengthen unity and brotherhood, Kristyanto expounded.

The halalbihalal spirit is noticeable during the meeting between Jokowi and Soekarnoputri, he stated.

"Asking apologies from each other, visiting each other, and enhancing the spirit of brotherhood. It is a good example for humanity and, in particular, all Indonesians," the secretary general remarked.

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Meanwhile, Kristyanto said that the recent declaration of Ganjar Pranowo as the party's presidential candidate in the 2024 elections plays a factor in the intimate nuance of the gathering.

He affirmed that the political dynamics around Ganjar's nomination as a presidential candidate are among the topics discussed between Jokowi and Soekarnoputri during the one-hour gathering.

"With the Eid nuance, both leaders are intimate, and they also discuss political dynamics after Ganjar Pranowo is nominated as a presidential candidate. Everyone is happy," Kristyanto remarked.

On Friday (April 21), Soekarnoputri personally announced the nomination of Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo as the PDI-P candidate for the 2024 Presidential Election during the party's internal consolidation and Eid al-Fitr gathering event at Batu Tulis, Bogor City, West Java.

"I designate Mr Ganjar Pranowo, currently the governor of Central Java, as the party cadre and officer, who will receive the assignment to be the candidate of the President of the Republic of Indonesia from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle," Soekarnoputri stated during the declaration.

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Translator: Gilang Galiartha, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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