Prabowo, Ganjar And Anies Kompak Wear Parang Batik During Lunch With Jokowi At The Palace

A total of three presidential candidates for the 2024 presidential election will have lunch with President Jokowi at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Monday, October 30. (Ist)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo invited three presidential candidates (candidates) to have lunch together at the Merdeka Palace, Central Jakarta, today. This rare moment took place since 12.30 WIB, Monday, October 30.

Interestingly, Prabowo Subianto, Ganjar Pranowo, and Anies Baswedan compactly wore long-sleeved machetes when receiving invitations to eat with Jokowo. Prabowo and Anies' batik is dominantly brown, while Ganjar is red.

Batik machetes come from Java, especially the Special Region of Yogyakarta and Solo. The batik was made by batik craftsmen in the area and became popular in the 19th century.

Launching the Kemendikbudristek page, the motif of machete batik has a philosophical meaning of message never giving up. Meanwhile, continuity in the motive of machetes provides a philosophy of a struggle that never breaks.

Jokowi serves various foods to be eaten by prospective presidential candidates who will compete in the 2024 General Election. Among them are rolade chicken, rice cake, rendang, soy sauce chicken, bacem tofu, lontong, rendang, and orange juice.

The General Elections Commission (KPU) has received registrations for three pairs of candidates for president and vice president for the 2024 presidential election, namely Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar, Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD, and Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

The Anies-Muhaimin pair was promoted by the NasDem Party, the National Awakening Party (PKB), the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), and the Ummah Party.

The Ganjar-Mahfud pair was promoted by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), the United Development Party (PPP), the Indonesian Unity Party (Perindo), and the People's Conscience Party (Hanura).

Meanwhile, the Prabowo-Gibran pair was promoted by the Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), the Golkar Party (Golkar), the National Mandate Party (PAN), the Democratic Party, the Crescent Star Party (PBB), the Indonesian People's Wave Party (Gelora), the Garda Party of the Republic of Indonesia (Garuda), and the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), as well as the People's Fair and Prosperous Party (Prima) who did not qualify to participate in the 2024 General Election.

The General Elections Commission (KPU) has determined that the election campaign period will take place from 28 November 2023 to 10 February 2024, while the voting is scheduled to be held on 14 February 2024.