Medikantyo Adhikresna, Bella Evanglista, Jakarta – The Chairman of the National Democratic Party (Nasdem), Surya Paloh, met with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Sunday in a rare encounter since the media mogul departed from the pro-government coalition and supported a presidential candidate widely perceived as an opposition figure.
The one-hour meeting at the State Palace was initiated at Surya's request, a presidential aide confirmed after the meeting, prompting speculations that Nasdem might be contemplating a return to the coalition.
"Mr. Surya Paloh earlier requested a private meeting with the president," said Ari Dwipayana, the coordinator of the executive expert team for the president.
He said the president discussed political and election dynamics for the best interests of the nation with his guest but he refrained from divulging the details of the closed-door discussions.
Nasdem Secretary-General Hermawi Taslim later denied Ari's claims, insisting that Surya came to the palace to meet an invitation for a dinner with the president.
The meeting occurred just four days after the presidential election, which indicated Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto as the prospective winner with Jokowi's son, Gibran Rakabumi Raka, becoming his running mate.
Quick counts by all independent pollsters suggested that Prabowo would secure the presidency with approximately 58 percent of the vote, surpassing Nasdem's candidate, former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan.
Surya had distanced himself from the president and the pro-government coalition since announcing Anies as the presidential candidate in October 2022.
Anies, who was dismissed as the education minister by Jokowi in the latter's first presidential term, has maintained his main campaign themes focused on reforms and bureaucratic changes, continuing to emphasize his anti-establishment stance since before the campaign season began.
"The meeting possibly discussed Nasdem's support to the government," suggested Ujang Komarudin, a political analyst from Al Azhar University in Jakarta.
He described the meeting as a "crucial phase" in Nasdem's post-election trajectory, whether the party will rejoin the future government or assume an opposition role, he added.
"Surya Paloh wanted to reestablish communication with Jokowi after Nasdem was defeated in the presidential election, and there is a possibility that the party seeks to join the coalition behind Prabowo and Gibran," Ujang said.
An aide of Surya said the meeting was a normal and friendly engagement between the two figures and did not involve discussions on anything extraordinary.