TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo or Jokowi held a discreet meeting with President-elect Prabowo Subianto and Vice President-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday evening, April 24.

Presidential Special Staff Coordinator Ari Dwipayana said the meeting was the initiative of Prabowo-Gibran following the General Elections Commission (KPU) officially declared their victory in the February election.

Ari said the president congratulated the duo on their success and confirmed the government's complete support to guarantee that the power transition in October 2024 runs smoothly and efficiently.

“President Jokowi hopes that the new government led by the elected president and vice president can start working immediately after being inaugurated on October 20, 2024,” he said in a short message to Tempo on Thursday, April 25.

Prabowo and Gibran have yet to openly explain the formation of the government transition team. During the election race, the Defense Minister and Jokowi's eldest son pledged to continue the current government's vision and mission.

Several parties argued that the transition team would be unnecessary. Earlier, Jokowi confirmed that he would not establish a special transition team. Nevertheless, he said he was preparing a transition between his government and the next one.

"In this way, the president and vice president-elect can work immediately after being sworn into office," Jokowi said at the ICE BSD in Tangerang, Banten.

In a statement on Thursday, Ari Dwipayana said the President would support and prepare the programs of the elected president and vice president in the 2025 government’s program plan (RKP) and State Budget Draft (RAPBN), including those that could be executed immediately after the inauguration.

“He is enthusiastic to oversee the continuation of development to realize an Advanced Indonesia for which President Jokowi has already laid the foundation,” Ari concluded.

DANIEL A. FAJRI

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