Presiden Jokowi Kembali Pamer Kedekatan dengan Menhan Prabowo saat Makan Bakso Bersama di Magelang

Summary

The transcript discusses the increasingly close ties between Indonesian President Joko Widodo and his political rivals ahead of the 2024 presidential election. It focuses on Widodo's meetings with opposition party leaders who are backing candidates Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming, suggesting Widodo aims to ensure their full support to help Subianto's electoral chances. Analysts view this as Widodo campaigning for Subianto while still utilizing the advantages of his presidential platform. They say Widodo is playing astute political maneuvers to subtly signal support for candidate number two without openly declaring a endorsement.

Takeaways

• 😀 Jokowi met with the chairman of the Democratic Party, riding bikes and having breakfast together in Yogyakarta
• 😊 Jokowi's team said he was just exercising and greeting people in Yogyakarta, not discussing politics
• 😟 Jokowi has been frequently meeting with party leaders who nominated Prabowo as presidential candidate
• 🤔 This shows Jokowi wants to campaign all-out for Prabowo's ticket
• 😮 Prabowo's team admits they have repeatedly asked Jokowi to join their campaign activities
• 😲 Jokowi's gestures and statements when with Prabowo signal his support for Prabowo's ticket
• 😶 Analysts say Jokowi wants to ensure full support from Prabowo's endorsing parties
• 🤫 Jokowi is campaigning without taking leave, so he can still use state facilities and programs
• 😬 Analysts view Jokowi's maneuvers as shrewd strategy to help Prabowo while retaining presidential perks
• 😱 There are concerns Jokowi is misusing his position and access to government programs to boost Prabowo's electability

Q & A

What was the recent meeting between President Jokowi and Prabowo about?

The recent meeting involved President Jokowi, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, and Gibran Rakabuming Raka eating together. It seemed to be a campaign event to support Prabowo and Gibran's presidential bid.

What is Prabowo's relationship to President Jokowi?

Prabowo Subianto is currently serving as Defense Minister under President Jokowi's cabinet, while also running against Jokowi's son Gibran as a presidential candidate in the upcoming 2024 election.

How are opposition camps reacting to Jokowi's meetings with party leaders?

Some opposition camps see it as a sign of panic and lack of confidence from Prabowo's campaign. Others see it as Jokowi trying to ensure full support from parties backing Prabowo.

Is Jokowi officially campaigning for Prabowo?

Not officially. Jokowi has not filed official paperwork to campaign. He is toeing the line by showing tacit support through gestures and appearances without outright declarations.

What rules would Jokowi have to follow if campaigning officially?

If officially campaigning, Jokowi would have to take leave from presidential duties and relinquish use of state facilities and programs during campaigning.

How is Jokowi justifying use of government programs during campaign stops?

As president, Jokowi claims he is not campaigning but rather conducting routine government functions like disbursing aid and social assistance programs.

What strategy is Jokowi appearing to employ?

Jokowi seems to be strategically employing subtle Javanese-style politics, conveying symbolic messages without overt declarations of endorsement.

What are observers concerned about with Jokowi's maneuvering?

Some are concerned about misuse of the incumbency advantage through exploiting government resources intended for public welfare.

Would an official leave of absence be more effective for Jokowi?

Perhaps not, as Jokowi's current gray area allows him to leverage existing presidential platforms and programs to campaign implicitly rather than forfeiting his advantage.

How might this affect public perception of the neutrality of Indonesia's democratic institutions?

Jokowi's opaque campaigning calls into question the nonpartisan role of the president and risks further eroding public trust.