Budi, a former police general regarded as very close to the leadership of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), said that Jokowi and Prabowo had been together so often that the President's aura of leadership had begun to rub off on the Gerindra Party leader.
he chief of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN), Budi Gunawan, on Tuesday lauded the close relationship between President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, saying that the latter had begun to acquire some of the President’s good leadership traits.
Budi, a former police general regarded as very close to the leadership of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), said that Jokowi and Prabowo had been together so often that the President's aura of leadership had begun to rub off on the Gerindra Party leader.
"Again today we see both of them together here. Everyone now begins to see an aura [from Prabowo]. We can see that some of Pak Jokowi's aura has been transferred to Pak Prabowo," Budi said in his speech opening the Papua Youth Creative Hub in Jayapura, Papua, on Tuesday.
Jokowi and Prabowo responded to the quip with laughter and in a video circulating from the event the Defense Minister could be seen clasping his hands toward the President as a sign of respect.
Later in his speech, Budi wished Prabowo success in the 2024 presidential elections.
"We wish Pak Prabowo good health, Godspeed and success in the 2024 election," Budi said.
Budi's comment came only days after PDI-P chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri held a meeting with Jokowi at the Presidential Palace during which the two politicians discussed preparations for the 2024 general elections.
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