Indonesia
President Prabowo Subianto, his predecessor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka sit together during the Independence Day ceremony, in what observers saw as a show of unity amid speculation of strained relations among the three.
President Prabowo Subianto (center) talks with Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka (right) and former President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Monday before the ceremony commemorating the 81st anniversary of Indonesia’s independence at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta. (Antara/Bayu Pratama S)
President Prabowo Subianto, his predecessor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka sit together during the Independence Day ceremony, in what observers see as a show of unity amid speculation of strained relations among the three. A livestream of the ceremony at the Merdeka Palace in Central Jakarta on Monday showed a moment in which the President sat on the highest platform at the palace’s terrace, between Jokowi and Jokowi’s son Gibran. They were captured on camera grinning and clapping as they watched fighter jet air displays by the Indonesian Air Force.
The top row seats were reserved for the President and Vice President, their predecessors, as well as legislative leaders. But former presidents Megawati Soekarnoputri and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono did not attend the Aug. 17 ceremony.
