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Jokowi looks to Prabowo as potential successor
President Jokowo, who beat Prabowo twice in 2014 and 2019, said that it may now be his former rival's turn to win the presidential election.
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Food talks: President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo (left) talks to Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto (right) and Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono during the inspection of a location for the National Food Barn Development in Bentuk Jaya village, Kapuas regency, Central Kalimantan, in this file photo. Jokowi appointed Prabowo to head the newly established food barn. (Courtesy of Presidential Secretariat/Lukas)
G
erindra Party (Gerindra) leader Prabowo Subianto fought to the bitter end in the last two elections, in which he was beaten, twice, by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, the former Surakarta, Central Java, mayor, who he brought to Jakarta only to dash his presidential dream.
But the rivalry between the two political figures, which once divided the nation into groups of cebong (tadpoles, the pejorative term used to describe Jokowi’s supporters) and kampret (bats, the one used to describe Prabowo’s), was over as soon as Prabowo chose to join the Jokowi administration and became his defense minister.
Today, as the nation prepares for a post-Jokowi future, the former military general has gone so far as to portray himself as a successor to President Jokowi, who some construe to have given a tacit endorsement to Prabowo’s third presidential bid.
Speaking during an event marking the anniversary of the United Indonesia Party (Perindo) on Monday, Jokowi seems to have suggested that Prabowo may win the presidential election in 2024, the same year that his second and final term ends.
Read also: It's Prabowo's turn next as president, quips Jokowi
“I won the election twice. My apologies, Pak [Mr.] Prabowo. It looks as if it may be Prabowo’s turn after this,” Jokowi said with a chuckle. Prabowo then stood up from his seat in the audience, raising his hands to salute Jokowi.
Prabowo vs. Ganjar
