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Ganjar says Jokowi's lunch with Prabowo in Magelang subject to multiple interpretations
Presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo commented on Jokowi and Prabowo's lunch session in Magelang, saying that it had multiple interpretations. The lunch also served as a signal of the president’s support for one of the election candidates, he claimed.
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President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo (left) and Defense Minister and presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto have lunch at a meatball restaurant in Magelang, Central Java, on Monday, Jan. 29, 2024. The lunch meeting took place after both officials attended a ceremony at the Military Academy, in which Jokowi officially opened the academy's main hall, which had just been renovated. (Tim Media Prabowo/-)
Presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo has described President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo's lunch with Defense Minister and presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto in Magelang, Central Java, on Monday as subject to multiple interpretations.
According to reports, Jokowi and Prabowo had lunch at a meatball restaurant, witnessed by local residents. The lunch took place after both officials attended a ceremony at the Military Academy, in which Jokowi officially opened the academy's main hall, which had just been renovated.
"Sometimes it becomes biased to determine what is what, and which thing is subject to regulation,” said Ganjar in Ambon, on Monday, as quoted by kompas.com.
“Later, people will ask about this [lunch]. Did you take leave?"
Ganjar, however, was not bothered by Jokowi's actions as they served as a sign of support from the President to one of the election candidates.
"It is a symbol that further confirms where Jokowi's support is. And for us, it is even better, especially if there is an open statement, so there will be no other interpretation. We respect that," he said.
The former governor of Central Java believes that this particular situation caused many people to demand that state officials be consistently neutral and impartial.
