Jokowi Not Invited to Pancasila Day Commemoration Ceremony
President Prabowo Subianto and the 5th President of Indonesia, Megawati Soekarnoputri, demonstrated a close relationship while attending the Pancasila Day commemoration ceremony at the Pancasila Building, Jakarta, on Monday. Following the ceremony, Prabowo and Megawati were seen leaving the venue smiling and holding hands, as captured via online broadcast.
Prior to the event, Prabowo was observed entering the ceremony area alongside Megawati, who serves as the Chairperson of the Advisory Board of the Agency for the Development of Pancasila Ideology (BPIP). Also in attendance was Vice President Gibran Rakabulating Raka. In addition to Megawati, Prabowo was seen conversing with several national figures, including the 10th and 12th Vice President Jusuf Kalla and the 13th Vice President Ma’ruf Amin. Also present were the State Secretary, Prasetyo Hadi, and the Cabinet Secretary, Teddy Indra Wijaya.
PDI-P Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto expressed hope that the meeting between Prabowo and Megawati would serve as a momentum to discuss various strategic issues regarding the future direction of the nation. “She is the fifth President who possesses vast experience and maintains a personal closeness with President Prabowo; therefore, it is hoped that the meeting will discuss various strategic matters regarding the nation’s future direction,” said Hasto following the commemoration.
According to Hasto, the relationship between Prabowo and Megawati has been well-maintained, based on a shared commitment to preserving national unity and strengthening the Pancasila ideology as the foundation of national life. He noted that the warmth shown by President Prabowo towards Megawati reflects the spirit of ‘gotong royong’ (mutual cooperation) and national brotherhood necessary to face the nation’s challenges.
In contrast, the 7th President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), did not attend the ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs complex. Jokowi’s aide, AKBP Syarif Muhammad Fitriansyah, revealed that Jokowi had not received an invitation to attend the ceremony in Jakarta. “As of this morning, we have not received an invitation for Mr Joko Widodo to attend the Pancasila Day Commemoration Ceremony,” Syarif stated in a written statement.
Jokowi has been at his residence in Sumber, Banjarsari, Solo, since Monday morning, interacting with citizens during the Vesak holiday period. The commemoration of Pancasila Day on 1 June has been observed since it was established by Jokowi during his presidency in 2016, based on Sukarno’s 1945 speech at the BPUPKI. Jokowi originally designated 1 June as a national holiday to honour the state ideology, stating that as the highest position in a country, it deserved formal commemoration and a public holiday.