Jakarta, IndonesiaSentinel.com — President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) urged the Gerindra Party to consider increasing the ministerial seats positions allocated to the National Mandate Party (PAN) in the upcoming government. Jokowi highlighted PAN’s unwavering support for Prabowo Subianto, which has been consistent since the 2014 presidential election and continued through Prabowo’s victory in the 2024 election.
“Please take note, Gerindra Secretary-General Pak Muzani. I remember, we all remember, that PAN has supported Pak Prabowo in three consecutive elections. In 2014, there was me and Pak Prabowo, and PAN supported Pak Prabowo. In 2019, once again, PAN backed Pak Prabowo. And in 2024, despite the presence of Pak Anies and Pak Ganjar, PAN remained loyal to Pak Prabowo,” Jokowi said during the PAN Congress VI at the Kempinski Hotel in Central Jakarta on Friday, August 23, 2024.
Jokowi suggested that PAN’s consistency in supporting Prabowo across three election cycles should be rewarded with additional ministerial seats in Prabowo’s administration. However, he acknowledged that the final decision lies with Prabowo, as the allocation of ministerial positions is the president’s prerogative.
“There should be an addition, three times, Pak Muzani. This is three times. Consistency. The additional seats, of course, are up to Pak Prabowo because he holds the presidential prerogative. But at the very least, I am reminding you,” Jokowi remarked.
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Earlier, President Jokowi attended the PAN Congress VI at the Kempinski Hotel in Central Jakarta, arriving at 6:57 PM alongside PAN Chairman Zulkifli Hasan. Jokowi was greeted by PAN leadership and members, wearing a dark blue shirt, a color associated with PAN. Vice President-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka arrived slightly earlier, dressed in a blue batik shirt.
The congress was also attended by several ministers from the Indonesia Maju Cabinet, including Minister of Communication and Informatics Budi Arie Setiadi, Minister of Investment Rosan Roeslani, and Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir. Additionally, leaders from other political parties were present, such as Golkar Party Chairman Bahlil Lahadalia, Acting PPP Chairman Mardiono, PKB Secretary-General Jazilul Fawaid, and PSI Secretary-General Raja Juli Antoni. Medan Mayor and Jokowi’s son-in-law, Bobby Nasution, was also in attendance.
(Agung)
