Magelang – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has responded to a statement by presidential candidate number 2, Prabowo Subianto, who referred to the Onward Indonesia Coalition (KIM) of political parties backing his presidential bid as "Team Jokowi".
In response, Widodo told journalists to ask Prabowo. In the 2024 elections, Prabowo, who is also the Minister of Defense, has brought in Widodo's eldest son Gibran Rakabuming Raka as his vice presidential running mate.
"Ask Pak [Mr] Prabowo, coalition affairs are [a matter for] the coalition parties, don't ask me, ask him", said Widodo pointing to Prabowo who was sitting politely across from of him at a restaurant in Magelang, Central Java, on Monday January 29.
Prabowo earlier stated that he and the Indonesia Onward Coalition were the Jokowi Team. He said this in front of his campaign volunteers at a mass campaign event at the Jakarta Convention Centre (JCC) in Senayan, Jakarta, on Saturday January 27.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Prabowo-Gibran and the Onward Indonesian Coalition, we are open and unashamed and not untrustworthy. We are Pak Joko Widodo's team and as you know, for so many years I was Pak Jokowi's rival", said Prabowo told his volunteers present at the event.
Today meanwhile, Prabowo accompanied President Widodo for the official inauguration of the Military Academy (Akmil) main building in Magelang.
Following the inauguration, Prabowo and Widodo ate bakso (meatball soup) together at the Pak Sholeh Bandongan Bakso and Mi Ayam (chicken noodles) Restaurant.
They sat at the same table face to face. While eating, the pair were also seen talking. After the meal, Widodo claimed he only chatted with Prabowo about food.
"[We just] chatted about bakso, chatted about young coconut, chatted about fried tofu, it was like that", said Widodo. (mnf/kid)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Jokowi Respons Omongan Prabowo Soal 'Tim Jokowi'".]
