February 13, 2025
JAKARTA – Former president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has told his son, Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka , not to put himself ahead of President Prabowo Subianto amid rumors about a rift between him and his successor.
Prabowo just passed the 100-day mark of his administration with outstanding public approval, according to surveys, despite the struggle within his own government. As the President focuses on implementing his own vision, he has taken fiscal risks by expanding the size of the cabinet and moving away from the programs established by Jokowi.
His policies have met with some criticism, mostly in regard to the free nutritious meal program that has become a budget priority, at the expense of other programs in almost all ministries.
As the Gerindra Party chairman goes forward with his administration, he has been aided by his political party, which has become de facto leader of the House of Representatives despite finishing as the third-largest party by vote in the 2024 legislative election.
The Gerindra-led coalition at the House has deliberated several critical regulations unopposed, including the revision of a set of internal rules that bestow on lawmakers the authority to dismiss public officials as they see fit, blurring the lines between legislative and executive power.
In the government, Prabowo has maintained control of his administration in the hands of several aides, including Cabinet Secretary Maj. Teddy Indra Wijaya, who has the authority to reprimand Gibran and cabinet ministers.
Prabowo’s style of leadership has become a cause of concern even among his own cabinet ministers who have reportedly gone to Jokowi to share with him the progress of their work.
During an interview with Narasi TV chief editor Najwa Shihab, Jokowi said Prabowo had done “very well” in his 100 days with his populist programs, like the free meals and debt relief for small and medium enterprises.
He also denied that he had meddled with the Prabowo administration or influenced his son, but he did remind Gibran not to put himself ahead of Prabowo.
“A Javanese would say, ‘ojo kemajon’ [don’t cross the line]. Because constitutionally, a vice president should walk beside the president. Or help the president when asked,” he said during the interview at his home in Surakarta, Central Java, which was aired on YouTube.
Jokowi did not go into detail about what Gibran might do that could be defined as crossing the line but it has been reported that Gibran has received calls from Cabinet Secretary Teddy when it was felt he was not acting in accordance with Prabowo’s wishes.
At the peak of power during his last two years in office, Jokowi picked Prabowo, then defense minister in his cabinet, as his successor and built a coalition of political parties to support the Gerindra leader.
The former Jakarta governor also gave his blessing when his supporting political parties, including Golkar nominated Gibran, who was legally ineligible to run at that time, to run as Prabowo’s running mate in last year’s presidential election. A controversial ruling at the Constitutional Court later enabled him to run, sealing a political partnership between Prabowo and Jokowi, even after the latter left office.