Gerindra Cadre Sugiono Denies Being Prabowo-Gibran Cabinet Foreign Minister

Deputy Chairman of Commission I of the DPR from the Gerindra faction, Sugiono (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of Commission I of the DPR from the Gerindra faction, Sugiono, is rumored to be the foreign minister (the Foreign Minister) in the Prabowo-Gibran government. In a working meeting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemenlu) which was held on Thursday, September 12, Sugiono chaired the meeting.

Sugiono himself denied that the issue would become a foreign minister. He said he chaired a meeting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs because he replaced the Deputy Chairman of Commission I of the DPR, Teuku Riefky Harsya.

"No, it was just a coincidence. Yesterday I exchanged schedules with Pak Teuku Riefky Harsa, because I should have chaired the meeting, but I was unable to. Today I am in charge, because of the context with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, usually Mr. Riefky is in charge," said Sugiono at the Senayan parliament complex, Central Jakarta, Thursday 12 September.

In addition, Sugiono also responded to the statement by the Deputy Chairperson of the Gerindra Party Board of Trustees, Hasyim Djojohadikusumo, who stated that the alumni of the Taruna Nusantara High School would be included in the ranks of ministers in the Prabowo-Gibran cabinet. Sugiono emphasized that Prabowo did not have any exclusiveism in the ministerial election.

"I think if there were other principals at that time, they might also be mentioned. There was no exclusiveism. In essence, the challenges ahead are getting bigger and more complex," explained Sugiono.

Furthermore, Sugiono emphasized that the ministerial election was Prabowo's prerogative as president for the 2024-2029 period. He is optimistic that Prabowo will choose the best minister to run the government.

"Whoever will become a minister, from wherever it comes from, I am sure that in an effort to solve the problems of this nation there will be no boundaries, whether alumni, groups, or parties. This is a joint effort," he concluded.