May 28, 2026 | 01:39 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A day before the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha, President Prabowo Subianto once again left for France for another state visit. He was accompanied by several members of his Red and White cabinet.Ever since taking office 19 months ago, Prabowo has visited France four times. Here's what we know about it:1. First France Trip in July 2025Prabowo first visited France in July 2025, to attend the Bastille Day Military Parade at Place de la Concorde, Paris.The the Gerindra Party chair was invited as an honorary guest, and a few months later in early January 2026, Prabowo went back to France for a short trip. During his brief 5-hour stop that took place after Prabowo's tour to the UK and Switzerland, the president met his French counterpart, President Emmanuel Macron, to discuss a range of global issues.Prabowo's third state visit to France took place in mid-April 2026, where he met Macron for a bilateral meeting. Prabowo arrived at Orly Airport, Paris and was welcomed by French Minister of Labor and Solidarity, Jean-Pierre Farandou.Prabowo's fourth visit to France was as recent as May 26, 2026. Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya stated that this agenda had been on the schedule for a while."The invitation had been scheduled since last year and had undergone several reschedulings," Teddy said on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.2. The Reasons for Prabowo's Frequent Visits to FranceCabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya said Prabowo's visits to France are expected to strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries, as Indonesia currently has various strategic cooperations with Paris. "This state visit is expected to further strengthen Indonesia's position in Europe, especially in France," he said, adding that Indonesia's relations with France have complementary roles in the global context.According to Teddy, Indonesia is one of the primary gateways for European ties to Asia, while France is a major gateway for Asia to break through Europe.Gerindra Party spokesperson Bahtra Banong described Prabowo's visit to France as a state duty, and urged the public not to question why the party chair's departure overlapped with the Eid al-Adha celebrations."President Prabowo's willingness to go abroad during a festive moment proves that the interests of the nation and the Indonesian people are above all else. This is a form of dedication of a head of state," said Bahtra.3. Prabowo's Eid al-Adha Prayer in ParisDuring his state visit, Prabowo performed the Eid al-Adha prayer together with the Indonesian diaspora in Paris, France. The worship took place in the Indonesian House, at the Indonesian Embassy located in the capital city."President Prabowo arrived at the Indonesian House and immediately went to join the congregation in chanting the takbir together with the attendees," according to a release from the Presidential Secretariat.Prabowo was seen performing the Eid al-Adha prayer in the front row. The former Minister of Defense was flanked by Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya and the Indonesian Ambassador to France, Mohamad Oemar. Prabowo's son, Didit Hediprasetyo, was also seen in attendance.After the Eid al-Adha prayer, Prabowo was seen shaking hands with the attending diaspora. The event then continued with a friendly gathering and a communal meal.Sultan Abdurrahman contributed to the writing of this article.Read: Prabowo Joins Indonesian Diaspora for Eid al-Adha Prayers in ParisClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
