Palace Explains Reason for Gibran's Seating Arrangement Away From President Prabowo During Cabinet Meeting

Speculation has been rife regarding the seating arrangement of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka during a plenary Cabinet Meeting held on Monday, July 20. Reports indicated that Gibran was not seated next to President Prabowo, as is customary. Responding to these reports, Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi explained on Tuesday, July 21, at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta, that the seating arrangement was due to a technical issue. According to Hadi, President Prabowo Subianto was scheduled to present evaluations and data on several programs using a teleprompter. This technical setup necessitated Gibran's seating position away from the President. The departure from the usual seating arrangement fueled various interpretations, especially amidst existing reports concerning the relationship between the President and Vice President. However, the explanation from the Presidential Palace suggests that the change was a matter of logistical and technical necessity for the meeting's proceedings, rather than a reflection of any political undertones. In Indonesian politics, the synergy between the President and Vice President is often viewed as a key indicator of governmental stability. The pairing of President Prabowo, a former military general, with Vice President Gibran, the eldest son of former President Joko Widodo, was seen as a combination that bridged continuity with the previous administration and the vision of the new government. Consequently, even minor deviations in protocol, such as seating arrangements, can attract significant public and media attention.