Yudhoyono and Jokowi Meet in Bali to Discuss Smooth Transition

Jakarta Globe, Heru Andriyanto, Aug 28, 2014

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono met President-elect Joko Widodo in Bali
on Aug. 27, 2014 to discuss the transition. (AFP Photo/Sonny Tumbelaka)

Jakarta. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and President-elect Joko Widodo met for two hours in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Wednesday night to ensure that the transition process between the incumbent and new administration runs smoothly.

“We had a constructive discussion in the two-hour meeting regarding crucial matters related to the agenda of the state and the government,” Yudhoyono said in a press conference after the closed meeting with Joko.

Yudhoyono said he and Joko discussed government policies and programs and also matters related to the 2015 revised state budget and 2014 revised state budget.

Joko admitted that one of the topics they discussed in the meeting was the 2015 state budget, which Yudhoyono’s administration has proposed and which will be passed on to Joko’s administration.

“The discussion on [the state budget] was a bit detailed and the transition team will follow up the technicalities with the ministries,” Joko said.

The outgoing president said both camps agreed to hold further discussions on the technicalities related to the transition process.

“Pak Jokowi’s transition team officially works with the government and I approve of the communication and consultation [that had been developed between both camps],” Yudhoyono said, referring to Joko by his nickname.

Yudhoyono promised that the meeting would not be the last because Wednesday night’s was just the beginning of the two sides’ cooperation to ensure a smooth transition.

Joko said the smooth transition of power was a new tradition in Indonesia, which should be preserved.

“This is a new tradition that we want to continue,” Joko said during the joint press conference. “This is just the beginning that we hope to plan and implement as soon as possible. Let’s hope this can become a new tradition in Indonesia from incumbent government to the new one.”

Special presidential adviser for political communication Daniel Sparingga earlier said that the two leaders hoped to create a new culture of respect between outgoing and incoming presidents with Wednesday’s meeting. Daniel said that Yudhoyono wanted to build on this tradition when he became president in 2004. He said such a meeting and cooperation would be helpful for an incoming president.

However, Daniel said when Yudhoyono sent a representative to meet predecessor Megawati Sukarnoputri in 2004, she did not welcome the move.