Prabowo and Gibran Not Seated Together at Cabinet Meeting, Palace Cites Technical Necessity

The State Secretary, Prasetyo Hadi, has addressed public discussion surrounding the seating positions of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who were not seated next to each other during Monday’s plenary cabinet meeting. During the session at the State Palace in Jakarta, President Prabowo’s desk was placed in the centre, facing all cabinet members who were seated in a U-shaped formation. This layout drew attention because Vice President Gibran was seated among the ministers, unlike previous cabinet meetings where he sat alongside the President.

Pras explained that the first plenary cabinet meeting of the first semester of 2026 was used by the President to conduct an evaluation of all priority programmes being implemented by the government and to provide directives for accelerating programmes that must be completed in the second semester. He noted that the President required a teleprompter to deliver a detailed explanation of the government’s achievements over the past 20 to 21 months, supported by extensive data. This technical necessity dictated the central placement of the President’s desk.

Pras emphasised that the change in layout was solely due to technical needs and that there was no other significance to be concerned about. He firmly rejected any narrative linking the seating arrangement to subordination within the government, asserting that the entire cabinet is united and working hard to achieve the President’s priorities for the benefit of the people and the nation. He urged the public to focus on the substance of the President’s message, which included an assessment of the Red and White Cabinet’s performance over the past 21 months.