Palace Denies Prabowo-Gibran Position Is Not Equal, Says Seating Arrangement Is Only a Technical Matter

JAKARTA - The palace denied that the change in the position of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka in the Plenary Cabinet Meeting indicated that their relationship was in trouble.

The Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi said that the seating arrangement in the cabinet meeting on Monday, July 20, was made according to technical needs. Prabowo was placed in the middle because he used a teleprompter to expose many government programs and data.

"If what is questioned is the position of the Vice President, according to us this is only a technical need. There are no other things that might need to be worried about," said Prasetyo at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Tuesday, July 21.

He also denied the assumption that the position of President and Vice President was not equal in the trial.

"No, absolutely no. We are in a position now that is compact," he said.

The cabinet meeting was held to evaluate the government's priority programs during the first semester of 2026. The previous plenary cabinet meeting took place on March 13 or about four months ago.

According to Prasetyo, Prabowo explained the achievements of the Red and White Cabinet for about 21 months and asked for acceleration of programs that must be completed in the second semester.

He has not confirmed whether the position of the President and Vice President will be back next to each other in the next session.

"Yes, we will see later," said Prasetyo.