Prabowo has yet to congratulate Jokowi

JAKARTA. As president–elect Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and vice president–elect Jusuf Kalla prepare for new government, losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto has yet to publicly congratulate them, or indeed concede defeat.

Jokowi has several times expressed willingness to mend fences, toning down any animosity and past rivalry and saying that he and Kalla were “good friends” with Prabowo.

Political communications expert Gun Gun Heryanto said a message of congratulation would be a good political gesture since the two camps should have already moved on.

“Although it may hurt, such a message is needed in a sense of mature democracy and as a sign that he [Prabowo] is now focused on helping build the country,” Gun Gun said on Saturday.

“He can congratulate him, at the same time, telling Jokowi he will play a role as a counterbalance to the next administration.” 

Such a message, while rare in the country’s history, could cool tensions after the nation was polarized during the election process and up until the court announced its ruling. It would also educate people, he added.

Gun Gun said now was the right time to begin such a tradition, an easy political gesture to demonstrate a mature democracy. “And it may also benefit Prabowo in the future as the public will appreciate such a congratulatory gesture,” he said.

Prabowo’s lack of congratulations is particularly noticeable on social media, when on Thursday night, prior to the Constitutional Court ruling, he thanked his supporters on his Facebook page.

He also posted a photo while visiting protesters injured during a rally near the court building that day, described whom he as “friends who were injured while seeking justice at the Constitutional Court”.

He also urged his supporters to respect the court’s decision, although he later said the ruling did “not reflect substantive justice”. Prabowo also said his coalition would continue to struggle to realize a united, sovereign and prosperous Indonesia.

Meanwhile, Prabowo’s running mate Hatta Rajasa posted on his Twitter account on Saturday a call for National Mandate Party (PAN) members and supporters to respect the court’s ruling, reminding them the party had been serving the country, pushing for reform, fighting for justice, democracy and prosperity ever since it was founded 16 years ago.

 “Let’s unite and look forward; [let’s] avoid divisions between citizens, and strengthen our unity regardless of our backgrounds,” said the PAN chairman. “Our nation’s success lies in our ability to address differences and to bring them together as strengths.”

Prabowo’s campaign team has said the coalition would “continue the struggle” and carry on with the legal measures already being pursued along with future political measures.

Election Organization Ethics Council (DKPP) chairman Jimly Asshiddiqie, who is also a former Constitutional Court chief justice, said a message of congratulations from Prabowo would calm people while at the same time setting a good political precedent, Antara news agency reported.

 “A leader is also a teacher who serves as a role model. So, such forgiveness and congratulations have serious implications in terms of leadership and political education,” he said.

Member of the Gerindra Party’s council of patrons, Martin Hutabarat, confirmed that, to date, party chairman Prabowo had yet to congratulate Jokowi.

It appears that Prabowo’s reluctance is due to what Martin described as “Jokowi’s broken promise” that he made during the 2012 Jakarta gubernatorial election, which Jokowi and the PDI-P won with support from Gerindra.

 “Pak Prabowo will adopt the right stance at [the right] time to answer that question,” Martin told the Post. 

Jokowi served only two years as Jakarta governor before entering the presidential race.

On Saturday, Jokowi met with thousands of cheering supporters and campaign volunteers during a “friendly meeting” in Ancol, North Jakarta, urging them to continue the work they did during the election.

“The struggle is about to begin. Major new work will begin; why [do you] want to dismiss [yourselves as volunteers and supporters]? 

“The road ahead of us can be either easy or steep because of the economic and political situation. So, the presence of volunteers will still be very necessary,” he said. (Ina Parlina, Hans Nicholas Jong)