Daniel A. Fajri, Majalah Tempo, Adil Al Hasan, Jakarta – The State Palace denied reports circulating that President Joko Widodo, or Jokowi, asked to meet with Megawati Sukarnoputri, the chairperson of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), to join forces again in the 2024 elections.

"That is absolutely not true," said Presidential Special Staff Coordinator Ari Dwipayana at the Ministry of State Secretariat Building in the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, on Monday, January 22.

He added that it was an odd issue for the president to request a meeting with Megawati. He also stressed that there was no request for such a meeting.

However, President Jokowi would not close doors as meetings with national figures are a good agenda.

As previously reported, three PDIP high-ranking officials told Tempo that the President expected a coalition with the PDIP for the second round of the upcoming presidential election. This is aimed at strengthening the power of presidential candidate pair number 2 Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka if they advance to the second round against candidate pair number 1 Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar.

PDIP Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto also denied the reports. "No [such request]," he said on Sunday, January 21, before the vice presidential debate at the JCC, Senayan.

Hasto, however, said the party's general chairman was always open to any collaboration.

President Jokowi's relationship with the PDIP has reportedly split after his eldest son Gibran Rakabuming Raka ran for vice president alongside Gerindra Party patron chief Prabowo Subianto.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1824364/palace-denies-reports-that-jokowi-asked-to-meet-megawat