Jokowi Absent from Pancasila Birth Day Ceremony, Aide: We Received No Invitation

President Joko Widodo’s absence from the Pancasila Birth Day commemoration ceremony at the Pancasila Building, Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Central Jakarta on Monday, 1 June 2026, has drawn public attention. Amid the presence of national figures and former senior officials, Jokowi was not seen attending the ceremony led by President Prabowo Subianto. Jokowi’s office stated that the former head of state’s absence was not due to other reasons but because no invitation had been received up to the day of the ceremony. Jokowi’s aide, AKBP Syarif Muhammad Fitriansyah, said his office had not received any official notification or communication regarding Jokowi’s attendance at the state event. ‘As of this morning, we have not received an invitation for President Joko Widodo to attend the Pancasila Birth Day commemoration ceremony, whether in the form of an official letter or any other communication,’ Syarif said when questioned on Monday, 1 June 2026. As no invitation was received, Jokowi confirmed his absence from this year’s government-organised Pancasila Birth Day commemoration. ‘Therefore, the President did not attend the event,’ Syarif added. The Pancasila Birth Day ceremony was led by President Prabowo and attended by several national figures, including Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, former President Megawati Soekarnoputri (5th), former Vice President Ma’ruf Amin (13th), and former Vice President Jusuf Kalla (10th and 12th terms). Also present was Soraya Hamzah Haz, widow of the late ninth Vice President Hamzah Haz. Not only Jokowi, but former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was also absent from the ceremony. Previously, the Pancasila Ideology Development Body (BPIP) had stated it would invite all former presidents and vice presidents as part of the spirit of unity during the Pancasila Birth Day commemoration. ‘This is part of the process of building mutual cooperation, with everyone collaborating; all Presidents and Vice Presidents will certainly be invited,’ said BPIP’s Chief Secretary Tonny Agung Arifianto to reporters on Friday, 29 May 2026. However, as the ceremony approached, BPIP had not yet released a detailed list of former presidents and vice presidents who had confirmed their attendance.