"One thing we have seen is that this meeting has helped build a more harmonious situation in Indonesia," Edhy Prabowo, the partys deputy secretary general, remarked after the meeting at Prabowos family home located at Jalan Kertanegara IV, South Jakarta.
He noted that Prabowo Subianto, who was Joko Widodos former rival in the presidential election on July 9, had called on all party cadres and his supporters to accept Joko Widodos election as president.
"The competition is now over. In view of that, he wants Gerindra cadres and his supporters to accept the outcome. Eventually, it is all about how we can live in harmony, how problems can be settled, and how the country can become great," he affirmed.
Edhy Prabowo emphasized that his camp had, in fact, never fought with Jokowis camp, but he admitted that political competition and fights had occurred.
"Pak (Mr) Prabowo has offered an apology for the harsh words that had come up, but the competition is now over," he stated.
Edhy noted that Gerindra will be an opposition party along with the other political parties grouped in the Red-White coalition.
Edhy explained that the meeting between Prabowo Subianto and Joko Widodo that day took place after his conversation with Aria Bima, a politician from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), who had nominated Joko Widodo as the presidential candidate.
"Bima called me asking why Prabowo would not meet Jokowi. I answered that we have never received an invitation so far. I think Prabowo will not refuse to meet him," he added.
The conversation finally led to finalizing the time and location for the meeting.
"I asked him where the meeting should be held. Should it be held in Kertanegara or Hambalang (Prabowos residence)? Prabowo would feel honored if it is held in Hambalang. Finally, however, the meeting was determined to take place here at 10 a.m. local time," he revealed.
Ahead of his inauguration on October 20, Jokowi has planned to meet political party leaders, especially those belonging to the opposition coalition.
Earlier, he had met Aburizal Bakrie, the general chairman of Golkar Party, who is a member of the Red-White coalition.
During the meeting, Prabowo had invited Joko Widodo to visit his residence in Hambalang, West Java, and he responded positively to the invitation. (*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2014
