Indonesian President-elect explores possibility of establishing ruling coalition

 

Jakarta (VNA) - Indonesian President-elect Joko Widodo have had separate meetings with representatives of several parties to explore the possibility of establishing a government coalition.

On October 11, President Joko Widodo met Gerindra Party Chairman Prabowo Subianto - his opponent in the April election — for discussing the possibility of welcoming the party into the government coalition. 

Speaking at a joint press conference, Widodo said this was his second meeting with Prabowo Subianto since the election, during which the two sides discussed a lot about the possibility of welcoming the Gerindra Party into the government coalition but it is not yet final.

In addition, the two sides debated global economic trends and agreed that the political and security stability is the key to maintain the country’s economic growth amid global slowdown.

For his part, Prabowo Subianto affirmed his commitment to supporting the administration of President Widodo during the next five-year term, whether Gerindra joins the ruling coalition or not, for national interests.

Gerindra plans to announce its decision to join the coalition right after the national congress of the party on October 15.

On the same day, President Widodo met with former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Chairman of the opposition Democratic Party, for the same purpose.

In the April election, incumbent President Widodo surpassed his rival, retired general Prabowo Subianto, after winning 55.5 percent of the votes. He will be inaugurated on October 20./.