Once Intimate, Anies Baswedan Installs A Body Calling Jokowi A Puppet Of The People, Not A Presidential Candidate

President Joko Widodo and Anies Baswedan (Photo: DOK Setkab via Era.id)

JAKARTA - DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan is often rumored to be at odds with President Jokowi. However, many people forget that Anies and Jokowi were once intimate.

The proof is that Anies was Minister of Education in the first Jokowi-Jusuf Kalla period, 2014-2019.

There was something unique when Anies still defended Jokowi desperately before he was finally removed from the ministerial seat. What does it look like?

During the campaign, Anies was at the forefront of dispelling slanted issues directed at Jokowi, including puppet presidential candidates.

When he heard that, Anies immediately defended. He said Jokowi was a puppet of the people, not a puppet presidential candidate.

"Pak Jokowi (during the presidential debate) gave a statement that I only submit to the constitution, to the people. He is a puppet of the people," said the spokesman for the Jokowi-Jusuf Kalla success team after a discussion at the Menteng Executive Apartment, Central Jakarta, June 17, 2014. Era.id, Tuesday, January 10.

At that time, Anies was still the Chancellor of Paramadina University. The issue, said Anies, is similar to the accusations made against Jokowi when he was running for the DKI gubernatorial election.

He was accused of being Prabowo's puppet. "In 2012, several media reported the impression that Pak Jokowi could be Prabowo's puppet," explained Anies.

Anies recalled that there used to be a political magazine that featured a front cover photo of Jokowi sitting next to Prabowo like a doll.

In fact, the issue has never been proven. "The proof is that Pak Jokowi actually fought back with a closing question (during the presidential debate)," Anies explained.