Jakarta – President-elect Prabowo Subianto intends to establish an elite club comprising the sitting president and living former presidents as a forum for exchanging views and ideas, his spokesman said on Friday.

By the time Prabowo assumes office on October 20, Indonesia will have three living former presidents, including Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and Megawati Soekarnoputri.

"The Presidential Club is not a formal entity. The essence lies in Mr. Prabowo's desire for all living former presidents to convene regularly to discuss strategically important national issues and foster a friendship that serves as an example to all," Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak told the Kompas news website.The establishment of this club will afford Prabowo the opportunity to seek insights and advice from his predecessors during critical junctures for the nation, Dahnil added.

"God willing, Mr. Prabowo will convene with Mr. Jokowi, Mr. SBY, and Madame Megawati collectively at an appropriate time," he said.

The proposal comes amid escalating tensions between Jokowi and Megawati following the February 14 elections, which witnessed the departure of the president's family from Megawati's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

Jokowi has distanced himself from the PDI-P after his son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, became Prabowo's running mate in the presidential election, thereby foregoing expected support for PDI-P's presidential nominee, Ganjar Pranowo.

Ari Dwipayana, an aide to President Jokowi, underscored the importance of maintaining friendships among the president and former presidents, regardless of the existence of the proposed presidential club.

Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/prabowo-mulls-elite-club-for-living-expresident