Minister Denies Rift as Gibran's Seating Position Changes at Cabinet Meeting

A plenary cabinet session on Monday, 20 July 2026, presented a different sight. Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka did not sit alongside President Prabowo Subianto. In the large meeting of the Red and White Cabinet held at the State Palace, Gibran’s chair was positioned to the front right of Prabowo. The eldest son of former President Joko Widodo sat at a table with ministers, including Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan, and Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi. Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary Lieutenant Colonel Teddy Indra Wijaya was at the far right end of their table. By comparison, during the plenary cabinet session also held at the State Palace on 13 March 2026, Gibran’s chair was level with Prabowo’s. At that time, he sat at the same table as Prabowo, specifically to the left of the Head of State. The difference in seating positions between Prabowo and Gibran during the cabinet meeting drew attention. Responding to this, Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi stated the change in seating layout was purely a matter of technical necessity. ‘There are no other issues that need to be worried about,’ Prasetyo told the press at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday, 21 July 2026. Prasetyo explained that during the previous day’s cabinet meeting, Prabowo wanted to present the results of an evaluation of his priority programmes and achievements over approximately 21 months of his administration. According to Prasetyo, the President’s presentation required support from data displayed via a teleprompter. Therefore, Prabowo sat facing his cabinet members. ‘In terms of layout, if you noticed yesterday, the President was in the centre, and if the question is about the Vice President’s position, in our view it was solely a matter of technical necessity,’ Prasetyo said. The Deputy Chairman of the Gerindra Party then dismissed any notion that the change in seating layout was related to inequality between President Prabowo and Vice President Gibran. Prasetyo stressed that the administration led by Prabowo-Gibran remains solid. Furthermore, the entire cabinet is focused on executing national priority programmes. ‘There is nothing, absolutely nothing. We are currently in a position of great unity, all working hard to achieve what has been outlined by the President, following the line of the work programme and national priorities, all solely for the benefit of the people,’ Prasetyo stated.