Raising Speculation, Prabowo Is Considered To Need To Keep Your Distance From Jokowi

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and the 7th president of the Republic of Indonesia Jokowi greeted reporters in Solo, Central Java, Sunday (3/11/2024). BETWEEN/Aris Wasita

Political communication observer at Esa Unggul University, Jamiluddin Ritonga, assessed that Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto needed to keep his distance from former President Joko Widodo.

The reason is, the meeting between Prabowo and Jokowi in Angkringan Solo caused some speculation.

First, the emergence of speculation about Prabowo and Jokowi discussing the Pilkada, especially Central Java. This indication is seen with the presence of candidates for governor of Central Java, Ahmad Lutfi and the candidate for mayor of Solo, Respati Ardianto in Angkringan, even though they are on different floors.

"The presence of the Central Java cagub and Solo cawali reinforces speculation that Prabowo and Jokowi discussed the Pilkada. Moreover, the candidates also took Prabowo to the airport," Jamiluddin told reporters, Monday, November 4.

Second, the discussion of the Central Java Pilgub and Solo Pilwali is considered important for Jokowi. For Jokowi, according to Jamiluddin, the two regions must be controlled because they are related to political prestige.

"If the champion Jokowi loses in Central Java and Solo, then his prestige will fade. Jokowi will be judged to have lost to PDIP, especially Megawati Soekarnoputri," said Jamiluddin.

"Moreover, Central Java, including Solo, is still based on PDIP. Therefore, Jokowi wants it to end by winning the candidate pair who is the champion," he added.

Therefore, Jamiluddin assessed that in this context Prabowo was present in Solo and had dinner with Jokowi. Jokowi, he said, might ask Prabowo for help in mobilizing all the strength he had to win the candidate pair of choice.

"In that way, Jokowi wants to remain superior in political rivalry with PDIP, especially Megawati. Jokowi still wants to be a 'controller' in Central Java and Solo," he said.

Tiga, Jokowi terlihat masih kawe-cawe dalam politik, khususnya Pilkada. Menurut Jamiluddin, hal itu dilakukan agar ayah Wakil Presiden RI Gibran. Rakabuming Raka itu tetap punya kaki di daerah, khususnya di Jateng dan Solo.

"For Jokowi, having legs in the regions is needed to strengthen his trah politics. Jokowi wants the next five years to have a lot of feet in the regions to smooth Gibran's continuation in power," he said.

To show that he still has a big influence, continued Jamiluddin, Jokowi simply brought Prabowo to Solo and had dinner at Angkringan.

"A moment like that is enough to signal his political opponents that he is still in power politically, even though he is no longer president," he said.

Fourth, Jokowi wants to show Solo to be a political epicenter in the country. Jokowi, said Jamiluddin, wants to show that Solo can change the national and regional political maps as long as he wants it.

"This can certainly reduce Prabowo's prestige as President. Prabowo can be assessed as a figure of Jokowi's political extension. This impression is certainly not good for Prabowo, because it will impress that there are twin suns," said Jamiluddin.

"So, Prabowo should reduce the meeting with Jokowi so that the impression of not being independent can be minimized. This is necessary so that Prabowo is considered an independent president in making policies," he concluded.

As previously reported, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto visited the residence of the 7th President Joko Widodo at his residence in Solo, Sunday, November 3, evening.

This visit to Solo was carried out after Prabowo made a working visit to Merauke, Papua in the morning.

Prabowo picked up Jokowi for dinner at Angkringan Semar. Prabowo arrived in his private vehicle at 18.23 WIB at Jokowi's house.

Meanwhile, Jokowi admitted that he was very happy to be visited by President Prabowo Subianto to his residence in Solo. This statement was conveyed by Jokowi through a photo caption on the Instagram social media account @jokowi, Monday, November 4, which displays three frames of photos of his moment of togetherness with President Prabowo Subianto.

"I'm very happy that Mr. President Prabowo Subianto took the time to stop by the residence last night," he said.