What was supposed to be a heartfelt message in memoriam of Yudhoyono’s late wife, who died on Saturday, took a bitter turn when Prabowo mentioned Ani’s political preference in his mourning while talking to reporters on Monday.

Prabowo visited the Democratic Party patron’s residence in Cikeas, West Java, on Monday, during which he expressed his condolences for the passing of Ani before Yudhoyono and his family.

Following the meeting, Prabowo was asked by reporters about the memories that he shared with the former first lady, to which he replied that he had known Ani and her father, Lieut. Gen. (ret) Sarwo Edhie Wibowo, since he was a teenager.

“I think [Ani] was a very supportive wife to her husband, a smart and loyal [woman],” Prabowo said in a televised public statement.           

However, Prabowo, whose candidacy was also backed by the Democratic Party, went on with revealing the presidential candidate whom Ani had voted for during the 2014 and the 2019 presidential elections.

Yudhoyono, who was accompanied by Prabowo’s running mate in 2014 Hatta Rajasa and Democratic Party secretary-general Hinca Panjaitan, was standing behind Prabowo when the former general was making his statement.

Prabowo left Yudhoyono’s residence shortly after he finished his speech. Yudhoyono immediately approached the reporters who were recording the situation and asked them not to publish or broadcast the part of the statement that revealed Ani’s political preference.

“Please understand our feelings as we are still mourning. I think it’s inappropriate [to reveal whom she had voted for in the past]. Ibu Ani has just passed away and she didn’t want to be mentioned in relation to any kind of politics,” Yudhoyono told the media. (afr)

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