Jakarta. The Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) recently said that its chairman and president-elect Prabowo Subianto’s idea of forming a “presidential club” was not something that came out of the blue. 

As the name suggests, this club will regularly gather former presidents  --including the incumbent Joko “Jokowi” Widodo -- to have talks on strategic state issues with Prabowo. According to Gerindra’s deputy chairman Habiburokhman, Prabowo has been talking about forming a presidential club at the party’s internal meetings for years. 

“Presidential club is an idea that Mr. Prabowo has long discussed with Gerindra’s cadres. To be honest, I have already heard of this since a long time ago,” Habiburokhman told Beritasatu over the weekend. 

Habiburokhman said the presidential club aimed to maintain what the previous governments had achieved. He added: “Former presidents are the best people one can consult with and ask about the previous policies.”

Aside from outgoing President Jokowi, Indonesia today has two living former presidents Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) and Megawati Soekarnoputri. 

“They all have made incredible achievements in their era. Mr. Prabowo of course would need some input from those three figures. …  Whatever form the presidential club takes, whether it is formal or informal, we really need to maximize these talks between the presidents. It is for all Indonesians and the country’s sake,” Habiburokhman said. 

President Jokowi last week commented on the establishment of the presidential club. 

“That would be great. I don’t mind having this [presidential club members gathering] once every two days,” Jokowi said. 

Tourism Minister and United Development Party (PPP) politician Sandiaga Uno also gave his take on the regular meetings with ex-leaders,  saying that such talks would be pivotal amidst emerging global challenges.

“Mr. Prabowo wishes to embrace all strengths. We will face many international, geopolitical turbulences, including the global economic slowdown. I like Mr. Prabowo’s idea of uniting [all these strengths] and gathering the inputs from Mr. SBY, Mrs. Mega, and also Mr. Jokowi,” Sandiaga said in a recent Instagram post.

“I’m optimistic that [the three] are thinking about what is best for our country. Of course, they want to give some ideas to Mr. Prabowo on facing the future dynamics of Indonesia’s developments,” Sandiaga said.

The news of a presidential club first came to the surface following a statement by Prabowo’s spokesman Dahnil Azhar Simanjuntak.

“Mr. Prabowo wants to regularly meet with the former presidents to discuss strategically important national issues. So they can foster a friendship that serves as an example to all,” Dahnil told reporters last week.