Palace Says Jokowi Working as Usual, Not Having Birthday Celebration

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Presidential Palace confirmed that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo will not celebrate his birthday today, June 21. “The President is working as usual in his office at the Palace. There is no event to celebrate his birthday. He never celebrates his birthdays,” Deputy for Protocol, Press and Media at the Presidential Secretariat, Yusuf Permana, told Tempo in a short message on Friday morning.

Today, the 7th President of Indonesia, who is celebrating his 63rd birthday, has an internal agenda at the Jakarta Presidential Palace. Typically, this involves having closed meetings with ministers or certain figures.

Having commenced his term on October 20, 2014, President Jokowi is poised to conclude his tenure later this year.

Born in Surakarta, Central Java, on June 21, 1961, Jokowi began his government service as the mayor of Surakarta or Solo from July 28, 2005 to October 1, 2012.

He was then elected as Jakarta Governor on October 15, 2012, before being elected president in the 2014 Presidential Election with the support of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP).

Jokowi led the first term of government with senior politician Jusuf Kalla. He secured his re-election in the 2019 presidential election, with Ma'ruf Amin as his vice president. 

Many took to social media to extend their birthday wishes to Jokowi, including his successor and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto.

Prabowo posted a photo of himself alongside Jokowi while driving a car. “May Allah continuously provide you with security, health, and strength as you carry out your service to the State and People of Indonesia. Happy Birthday Bapak President @jokowi,” Prabowo wrote in the photo caption, mentioning Jokowi’s account.

DANIEL A. FAJRI

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