Jokowi Jokes When “Absent” Will Be a Presidential Candidate at the Hipmi Event

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com– President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) again absent a number of figures who were said to be presidential candidates (candidates) in the 2024 Presidential Election (Pilpres), while attending the inauguration of the Central Executive Board of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (Hipmi), Monday (20/2/ 2023).

At first, Jokowi joked that his habit when attending political party (political party) events was to call one by one the figures who were said to be candidates for president.

“Usually when I come to party forums, the first thing I do is take the absences for the presidential and cawapres candidates. Usually I do that, who will the presidential and cawapres attend,” said Jokowi when starting his remarks.

Later, Jokowi admitted, he did not want to do his habit because he was attending an organizational event in the economic sector, not a political party.

Also read: Public Satisfaction with Jokowi’s Administration Increases, Palace: Public Appreciation

However, in the end, Jokowi mentioned the names of the figures present at the event, although he admitted that he did not mean to absent those who could potentially become presidential candidates.

Those on Jokowi’s absence are the Minister of Defense who is also the general chairman of the Gerindra Party Prabowo Subianto, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy who is also the general chairman of the Golkar Party Airlangga Hartarto, and the Minister of SOEs who is also the general chairman of PSSI Erick Thohir.

“Even though I know that Pak Prabowo is present here, there is also Pak Airlangga, there is also Pak Erick, but I am not absent, I am usually absent one by one,” Jokowi said to laughter from the audience.

Jokowi indeed often greets one by one the figures who are predicted to become presidential or vice presidential candidates in the upcoming 2024 Presidential Election at political party events.

Also read: Democrats Regret Jokowi’s Endorsement AHY et al Become Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates, Asked to Learn from SBY

One of them was when he attended the 50th anniversary of the birth (harlah) of the United Development Party on Friday (17/2/2023) last week.

Initially, Jokowi asked which presidential candidate PPP would support later. Because, according to him, the presidential candidates were also present at the PPP ceremony.

“I want to ask, who is the PPP candidate? Because everyone is here, you know. All the presidential and vice presidential candidates are present,” Jokowi said, Friday.

Jokowi then continued by mentioning a number of names that had been included in the presidential and vice presidential candidate exchanges.

“What I know is Pak Prabowo. What I know is Pak Erick Thohir. What I know is Pak Sandiaga Uno. What I know is Pak Mahfud MD,” Jokowi said.

“I almost forgot, there is also Mas AHY and of course there is the general chairman of PPP. Is there anything I haven’t mentioned yet?” he said, watching the seats of the audience and laughing.

Also read: Rows of Figures Called Jokowi Have the Potential to Become Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates, from Prabowo to AHY

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