Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has sent a floral arrangement to Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri as a birthday gift for the party matriarch, who celebrated her 77th birthday on Tuesday.
In a card attached to the bouquet, President Jokowi wished a happy birthday to Megawati, who held a small party on Tuesday attended by close family members.
"Happy birthday Ibu Megawati Soekarnoputri. From: President Joko Widodo," the card read simply.
Separately, PDI-P secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto said that although Megawati did not hold a big party, all party members were encouraged to celebrate her birthday by staging cultural events.
Hasto added that some local party branches had held various events from tree-planting activities to distributing cone-shaped yellow rice to the poor.
He said that Megawati's 77th birthday was the right occasion to remind the public about her contribution to the defense of democracy in the country, especially when she balked at the proposal to extend President Jokowi's presidential term.
"With all the intimidation that we're currently facing, this is in fact the fuel that should fire our efforts to maintain the people's sovereignty," Hasto said, as quoted by Antara.
The relationship between Jokowi and Megawati has collapsed since the former's decision to allow his son Gibran Rakabuming Raka to run alongside Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto in the Feb. 14 presidential election.
The relationship reached its nadir when Jokowi did not show up in early January to celebrate the PDI-P's 50th anniversary.