TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The conspicuous absence of Gibran Rakabuming Raka during Prabowo Subianto's victory speech, following the announcement of the presidential election results by the KPU on the evening of March 20th, gave rise to speculation concerning the relationship between President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Gerindra Party's patron chief.

Gibran brushed off such rumors, asserting that his absence was due solely to his duties as the Mayor of Solo.

“There is no strained relationship [between the two],” he assured the press on Thursday, March 21. He also insisted that his responsibilities as mayor remain his utmost priority.

On March 20, the KPU officially declared Prabowo and Gibran as the victors of the presidential election held on February 14, 2024.

In his victory speech, Prabowo said that he and Gibran Rakabuming were elected based on the mandate of the Indonesian people. “We will serve as the president and vice president of the Indonesian people,” he said on Wednesday evening at his residence on Jalan Kertanegara, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta.

Gibran further confirmed that he would meet with Prabowo and maintained that he had been communicating with the Defense Minister all along. “We will surely meet later. Don't worry,” he said.

He also asked news outlets to refrain from propagating negative issues. “There is no need to report anything negative. Please don't report anything bad,” he said.

When asked about his response to the congratulatory message from Surya Paloh who endorsed rival Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar, Gibran Rakabuming expressed his gratitude briefly.

SEPTIA RYANTHIE

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