Widodo (left) stands alongside Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri and Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo during the party's national meeting in South Jakarta on June 6, 2023. -The Jakarta Post/Antara
JAKARTA (The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network): Speaking during a PDI-P national meeting in South Jakarta, on Tuesday (June 6), the President said the party's presidential nominee possessed the bravery that was needed for a world beset by crises, seemingly laying to rest speculations over a growing rift with Megawati.
President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo on Tuesday heaped praise on Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, the presidential candidate of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), saying that the country could benefit from his “bravery”.
President Jokowi said the country's next leader should possess bravery, especially because the world was beset by multiple crises from energy to food as a consequence of the war in Ukraine.
"For a future leader like Pak Ganjar Pranowo, the number one quality is that he has guts. Bravery is number one, and I can see that Pak Ganjar has that quality," Jokowi told a press briefing on the sidelines of the meeting.
Jokowi, Ganjar and PDI-P chief Megawati Soekarnoputri made a joint appearance at Tuesday’s meeting and issued remarks that many deemed conciliatory.
Media reports in recent weeks suggested that Megawati and Jokowi had a falling out, especially after the party matron repeatedly issued statements that were seen as belittling the President.
In January, Megawati told a PDI-P gathering that Jokowi would not be president now if it were not for her decision to nominate him in 2014.
On Tuesday, Megawati gave credit to the president’s policies, particularly his infrastructure development project.
Earlier in the event, Ganjar said Jokowi was his mentor and that he had frequent discussions with the president, especially on development issues.
