Jakarta – Gerindra and Golkar, two of the country's largest political parties, have agreed to work together to maintain Indonesia's stability, following a meeting between Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto and Golkar Party chairman Airlangga Hartarto on Tuesday.
"We have agreed to safeguard the country and nation that we love," Prabowo said in a press conference after the meeting. "Of course good political communication among senior party members will create a good atmosphere for national stability."
He said that Indonesia should learn from the example of other countries and not take stability for granted. "If there are differences or friction among several parties, the leaders should always try to resolve them in a calm way," he said.
Prabowo added, however, that political parties should not become so friendly as to create "an oligarchy."
"We should continue to compete and exchange ideas to defend our people, with the goal of bringing prosperity and justice to the people," he said. "We will compete but compete in kinship and friendship."
Airlangga echoed Prabowo's sentiment and said that Golkar and Gerindra had many similarities as well as a shared history.
The meeting was a continuation of Prabowo's "political safari," with the former Army general already having met NasDem Party chairman Surya Paloh and National Awakening Party (PKB) chairman Muhaimin Iskandar in the past few days.
Observers have said that the meetings are a prelude to Gerindra joining the government coalition and gaining a spot in President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's Cabinet, but neither Prabowo nor Airlangga were willing to answer reporters' questions on the matter. (kmt)