In a rare gesture on Thursday, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo let his oldest son Gibran Rakabuming Raka represent him to address the public on politics at the State Palace.
In a rare gesture on Thursday, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo let his oldest son Gibran Rakabuming Raka represent him to address the public on politics at the State Palace.
Known for his reluctance to talk to the press, Gibran was in the spotlight on Thursday alongside Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, the oldest son of Jokowi’s predecessor Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Both men addressed a press conference about the role of the young generation in Indonesian politics.
Agus paid a visit to the State Palace to ask for advice from the country’s top leader about the newly established Yudhoyono Institute, which he launched later that evening. Representing his father, Agus invited Jokowi to attend the launch of the institute.
But, in an unexpected move, Jokowi asked Gibran to join him in talks with Agus over a lunch that lasted more than an hour at the State Palace. The President then asked the two to address the media that day.
“Let the kids do it [the press conference] to make it more relaxed,” Jokowi said as he asked the two to show up at the press conference after the lunch.
The oldest sons of the country’s former and current presidents contrasted in their own outfits — Gibran was more casual while Agus was more formal.
“I will become the executive director of the Yudhoyono Institute. That’s why I came here to seek a blessing from the President and advice on how to make the Yudhoyono Institute successful in the future,” Agus said.
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