The President is at the same table as Prabowo, has the news of their estrangement disappeared?

Breaking the fast with the President and Cabinet was cool. The post-election frenzy seemed to have disappeared.

KOMPAS/NINA SUSILO

President Joko Widodo and Prabowo Subianto sat together at a breaking of the fast event between the President and members of the Indonesia Maju Cabinet at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday (28/3/2024). At the round table, President Jokowi was separated only by Minister of Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto. The table was also occupied by Vice President Ma'ruf Amin and Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Hadi Tjahjanto.

As if to dispel the news of the strained relationship between President Joko Widodo and Prabowo Subianto, the two of them sat at the same table at the event breaking the fast together between the President and members of the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet, at the State Palace, Jakarta, Thursday (28/3/2024). At the round table, President Jokowi was separated only by Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto. The table was also occupied by Vice President Ma'ruf Amin and Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Hadi Tjahjanto.

A total of 12 circular tables were fully occupied at the State Palace, each filled with 5-6 members of the Indonesian Maju Cabinet. Vice President Amin opened the event by giving a Ramadan sermon. This iftar event is the first for President Jokowi's cabinet since the last one before the Covid-19 pandemic on May 6, 2019. The iftar event back then was also held after the Presidential and Legislative Elections on April 17, 2019.

In this bukber event, some members of the cabinet chose to wear white-themed tops, while others chose to wear batik. Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati combined a light brown colored baju kurung with a bone white colored kerudung and matching pants. As for her friend since high school, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, she wore a black blouse with a white lace collar accessory, black pants, and covered her head with a turban.

As if to dispel the news of the strained relationship between President Joko Widodo and Prabowo Subianto, the two sat together at an iftar event with members of the Indonesia Maju Cabinet.

KOMPAS/NINA SUSILO

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Arifin Tasrif arrived at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Thursday (28/3/2024) to attend the breaking of the fast event with President Joko Widodo and Vice President Maruf Amin.

The intimacy during the time leading up to breaking the fast was also felt. Sri Mulyani and Retno Marsudi sat around the same table with Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif, Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs Teten Masduki, and Minister of Health Budi Gunadi. They immediately chatted warmly while taking photos together.

Also read: Cabinet ”Zaken”, Your Current History

Shortly after, when Prabowo arrived, Airlangga immediately greeted him. Ministerial greetings also took place. The same thing happened when President Jokowi and Vice President Ma’ruf Amin arrived at the main hall of the State Palace, the President immediately shook hands with Prabowo, Airlangga, and other ministers by placing his palms together. Prabowo also placed his hands on his chest, respectfully returning the greetings before sitting back down.

Some ministers were absent during the breaking of the fast event. They included ministers from the coalition that did not support Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka, such as Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna Laoly, Tri Rismaharini, Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziyah, Minister of Village, Disadvantaged Regions Development, and Transmigration Abdul Halim Iskandar, Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar, and Minister of National Development Planning/Bappenas Suharso Monoarfa.

Everything that is unfair, full of hatred, hostility and damage must be avoided because it is not in accordance with sharia law.

When providing Ramadan sermons, Vice President Amin emphasizes that everything that is unjust, full of hatred, enmity, and destruction must be avoided because it goes against Shariah law. Shariah law, which comes from Allah, is built on wisdom. Thus, Shariah law has benefits and advantages.

KOMPAS/NINA SUSILO

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi arrived at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta on Thursday (28/3/2024) to attend a breaking of the fast event with President Joko Widodo and Vice President Maruf Amin.

"The Sharia is all fair. The rules in Sharia are all fair because its creator, Allah SWT, has no interests at stake. It is different when it comes to humans, as they have their own interests. But with Allah, there are none," said the Vice President.

Islamic law contains mercy, benefit, and wisdom. "If Sharia is just, then injustice is not Sharia. Sharia is mercy, not hatred, not enmity. Even if it is interpreted in Sharia, if it is not just, full of hatred, enmity, and destruction, it is not Sharia even though it uses interpretation," he added.

The Sharia is all fair. The rules in the Shari'a are all fair because Allah SWT makes them without any interests.

This lecture seems to cool down the atmosphere after several months where everyone has been busy and frowning with the matter of winning the election. Fighting to win power has become the main objective.

Ramadan even seems to bring a calm atmosphere to the main hall of the State Palace. The Vice President also emphasizes that Ramadan fasting is a wisdom, making it a special form of worship. "Therefore, Allah in hadith says that all of man's deeds are for his own sake except for fasting. Fasting is for Me, Allah says, and I will be the one to reward it," said Vice President Amin.

KOMPAS/NINA SUSILO

Minister of Economic Coordination Airlangga Hartarto arrived at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta on Thursday (28/3/2024) to attend an iftar dinner with President Joko Widodo and Vice President Maruf Amin.

Fasting also teaches jihad to combat personal desires. "Everyone has desires and according to the Quran, desires bring destruction, whatever the desires may be. Therefore, they must be controlled," said the Vice President.

The wisdom of fasting

The Vice President emphasized that fasting should not only be about refraining from eating, drinking, and moving lunch to suhoor. "Especially after the election. If we cannot control ourselves enough, it will have a negative impact. Fasting has many benefits. Therefore, if it does not have an impact, the fasting has no value. Many people fast but don't get anything out of it," said the Vice President.

Especially after the election. If you lack self-control, it will have a bad influence.

Regarding the relationship between Prabowo and President Jokowi which is still maintained and displayed by sitting together at the "bukber" event this time, observers say that the relationship is built on shared interests.

Political lecturer from Sam Ratulangi University, Ferry Daud Liando, stated that the relationship between President Joko Widodo and Prabowo Subianto will greatly depend on their interests. As long as their interests are still aligned, the relationship will remain good. However, when their interests eventually differ, that is when their relationship will break off.

KOMPAS/NINA SUSILO

The Minister of Defense and the designated presidential candidate who won the 2024 Presidential Election, Prabowo Subianto, had a conversation with two members of the Presidential Advisory Council, Wiranto and Gandi Sulistyanto, during a breaking of the fast event held at the State Palace in Jakarta on Thursday (28/3/2024).

Three exams

In the near future, there will be three exams that can determine whether their relationship will last or break up. Firstly, which parties can be invited or accepted to join the future government coalition. Which parties can be accepted or rejected.

If both of their views are the same, their relationship can continue. However, if both of them have other considerations, potential conflict between the two could occur.

The second test is about the cabinet formation. Although the appointment of ministers is the prerogative of the president, it is impossible for President Jokowi not to request his "share". Similarly, Prabowo cannot deny that his election as president has a significant contribution from Jokowi.

"Therefore, it is possible that Pak Jokowi will not only ask for how many positions he is allotted, but he may also replace strategic ministerial positions with people trusted by Jokowi," said Ferry.

Thirdly, their relationship will be tested on the focal point of international economic relations. The two largest economic centers of the world's countries are centered in China and the United States.

There are many countries whose political elites are divided due to the tug-of-war between their relationship with China or the United States. If the country's alignment is the same, the relationship can endure. However, if it turns out to be different, their relationship could potentially end.

KOMPAS/WISNU WIDIANTORO

The Chairman of the Gerindra Party, Prabowo Subianto, and the president-elect, Joko Widodo, shook hands after meeting at Prabowo's parents' house on Kertanegara Street, South Jakarta, on Friday (17/10/14). In the meeting, Prabowo will ask his supporters to support the new government, but to remain critical if there are any programs that harm the people and the nation of Indonesia.

There is a compromise

Political observer from Al Azhar University, Ujang Komarudin, assessed that there must be a compromise between Jokowi and Prabowo. Moreover, according to him, Jokowi supports Prabowo-Gibran not only because his son was appointed as Prabowo's vice presidential candidate, but also because Prabowo is considered loyal. As a soldier, loyalty is usually held strongly.

The shadow of Jokowi's presence in the upcoming Prabowo government is acknowledged, as Jokowi has made a significant contribution to the victory of Prabowo-Gibran. However, according to Ujang, there will surely be compromises in a mutually beneficial and equal relationship.

Also read: Is it true that Jokowi and Prabowo's relationship is strained?

"Jokowi also needs to know his limits and be self-aware when his presidency is replaced by Prabowo Subianto. He doesn't need to be boastful, nor should he intervene in the new government. After all, there is already his deputy's son who will be inaugurated as the new vice president," said Ujang.

Jokowi is expected to be gracious and become a statesman who is not afraid to take risks. In the future, after being inaugurated as president, Prabowo will form his cabinet and government. Then, will Jokowi continue to shadow or choose to become a statesman, the people can certainly judge for themselves.