Observer Of The Value Of Prabowo's Meeting - Jokowi Ahead Of The Debate Of Presidential Candidates Causes Perceptions Of Government Support

Prabowo Subianto during a dinner with President Jokowi in Menteng, Central Jakarta on Friday (5/1/2024). (Instagram/@prabowo)

Political Observer Karyono Wibowo assessed that the meeting between Presidential Candidate Prabowo Subianto and President Joko Widodo could raise the perception of Government support for Prabowo-Gibran.

Karyono assessed that the meeting was due to the 2024 presidential candidate debate held by the KPU at Istora Senayan, Central Jakarta on Sunday, January 7.

"This meeting can lead to various public perceptions. It can also be interpreted as an affirmation of President Jokowi's support for the Prabowo-Gibran pair where the intensity of Jokowi's meeting with Prabowo is indeed more than other presidential candidates," Karyono said through his official statement.

Karyono suspected that the meeting that was held ahead of the 3rd debate that would discuss defense and security issues might be one of the discussions at the meeting.

"There are several problems that need to be anticipated before the debate such as questions about government policies in the defense and security sector that may arise," said Karyono.

The political observer also highlighted the issue of the allocation and use of the defense ministry's budget which may need to be anticipated because it has become a public concern.

"Moreover, the Ministry of Defense's budget for 2024 has increased significantly to Rp139.27 trillion. Maybe the president feels the need to discuss this so that the debate will not have an impact on the government's image," said Karyono.

This is because the Ministry of Defense's budget under the leadership of the Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto is one of the largest to receive a budget allocation from the 2024 State Budget which has been set by President Joko Widodo.

It is known that President Jokowi had dinner with Prabowo in the Menteng area, Central Jakarta, Friday, January 5. The photo of Jokowi's meeting with Prabowo has gone viral on social media and has become a public conversation.