Prabowo-Jokowi, is there a need for a transition team until October 2024?

The transition team is considered increasingly unnecessary because Prabowo guarantees that he will continue everything that Jokowi is doing.

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO

Activists staged a rally and burned various attributes in front of the DPR building, Gatot Subroto Street, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday (19/3/2024). The protesters rejected the violations and frauds in the 2024 election and pushed for an investigative inquiry to be held.

Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto likened the transfer of power from President Joko Widodo to simply passing on a "relay baton". The leadership relay baton from Jokowi is guaranteed to not be rigid. Prabowo, as the elected president for 2024-2029, promises a smooth transition of government.

"So, God willing, it can be said that there is actually no rigid transition period. "However, I think it's like giving us the baton," said Prabowo at an iftar event at the National Mandate Party DPP office, Warung Buncit, South Jakarta, Thursday (21/3/2024).

Prabowo even mentioned that Jokowi played a significant role in leading him to understand various national issues such as energy, food, downstreaming, poverty eradication, and climate change mitigation. "We are still waiting for the transition process. Insha Allah, in October we will truly receive and carry out the mandate," added Prabowo.

God willing, it can be said that there is actually no rigid transition period. However, I think it's like giving us the baton.

There is no certainty

Until now, Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko said there was no confirmation from President Jokowi regarding the formation of a government transition team from Jokowi to Prabowo. A government transition team was formed from the reign of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to Jokowi in 2014.

"So far, there has been no communication with our office. Therefore, we essentially strive to provide the best possible information about the government. We are ready to be there," added Moeldoko at the Bina Graha Building in Jakarta on Monday (1/4/2024).

Also read: Prabowo Begins to Consolidate

KOMPAS/MAWAR KUSUMA WULAN

Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko stated that there is yet to be a certainty from President Jokowi regarding the formation of a transition team from Jokowi's government to Prabowo's. This was revealed by Moeldoko at the Bina Graha Building in Jakarta on Monday (1/4/2024).

Moeldoko is optimistic that the transition of government from Jokowi to Prabowo will run smoothly. "We must be optimistic. We prepare everything as best as we can. Until now, we have always held the effectiveness of good service. Whatever the situation, public service must be maintained well," he said.

We must be optimistic. Let us prepare our best. Until now, we have always held onto the effectiveness of good service. Whatever the situation, public service must be maintained well.

Presidential Staff Expert Ali Ngabalin has added that the transition of government is guaranteed to run smoothly. Meanwhile, the formation of the government transition team is the authority and prerogative of President Jokowi. "It is the President's authority. God willing, it will go smoothly, quickly, and calmly," said Ngabalin.

No need to shape it

Director of Political Parameters Indonesia, Adi Prayitno, assessed that a government transition team is not necessary. This is because Prabowo will continue with everything that Jokowi has done. From the beginning, Prabowo has identified himself as part of Jokowi's team. "So, a transition team is not needed. The good news is that Prabowo and Jokowi are getting along well," he added.

The transition team is becoming less necessary because Prabowo has guaranteed that he will continue everything that Jokowi has done. Nevertheless, the potential for a rift between them is still considered highly possible. The rift could occur regarding the ministerial appointments and Jokowi's control over Prabowo.

This is not easy because Jokowi seems to want to have a share in Prabowo's government. Meanwhile, at the same time, Prabowo appears to not want to be intimidated by anyone.

"This is not easy because Jokowi seems to want to have a stake in Prabowo's government. Meanwhile, at the same time, Prabowo seems unwilling to be influenced by anyone," said Adi.

However, the bad news is that there are concerns that there will be no new innovation in the upcoming government. Adi mentioned the potential for a lack of breakthroughs to propel Indonesia significantly forward.

KOMPAS/MAWAR KUSUMA WULAN

Presidential Staff Office expert Ali Ngabalin gives a press statement at the Bina Graha Building, Jakarta, Monday (1/4/2024).

“Insider”

The General Chairman of the Projo Volunteer Group, Budi Arie Setiadi, also believes that there is no need for a transition team for Prabowo Subianto. According to him, Prabowo often attends closed meetings referred to as internal agendas during President Joko Widodo's activities in the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta.

"How is the transition going, everyone from within (the government) is like this," said Budi Arie to journalists at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Monday (25/3/2024).

How is the transition going, people from within (the government) are all like this.

By participating in various meetings under President Jokowi's administration, according to Budi Arie, Prabowo can surely identify the issues and continue good policies. The things that need to be improved will be addressed later.

Thus, there is no need for a transition team. Budi Arie at the same time dismissed rumors that Prabowo was distant and starting to differ in opinion with Jokowi. “That's cheap gossip. That's an attempt to pit one against another. "Every meeting people take part, how it is, ha-ha-ha," he added.

Budi Arie denied that President Jokowi entrusted several names, including his own, to Prabowo to join the next cabinet. He believes that the process of forming the cabinet is still far away. "It's just a rumor," he dismissed.

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

President Joko Widodo, accompanied by Vice President Ma'ruf Amin, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Hadi Tjahjanto, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto (from left to right) held an iftar dinner with members of the Indonesia Maju Cabinet and the Presidential Advisory Council at the State Palace, Jakarta, on Thursday (28/3/2024). This iftar dinner was the last one held by President Jokowi with the Indonesia Maju Cabinet during his second term in office.

That's cheap gossip. That's an attempt to pit one against another. People attend every meeting, how anyway, ha-ha-ha.

However, he considered that suggestions can certainly be made. Everyone is allowed to provide suggestions, but not just leave them behind. Political parties that are not yet members of the Indonesian Forward Coalition are also considered to be able to join. Because, according to Budi Arie, echoing Prabowo's statement, "We embrace everyone, all for Indonesia's progress."

Even though preparations for the transition team and entrusting names to the new cabinet are often denied, the General Chair of the Prabowo-Gibran National Campaign Team, Rosan Perkasa Roslani, suddenly went to the palace on March 25. He met Minister of State Secretary Pratikno for about an hour in his office. After the meeting, Rosan avoided discussing the transition team. "No, I didn't say anything at all," he said.

Rosan reasoned that he was discussing the position of the Indonesian Ambassador to the United States, which is still vacant up to this point. As a result, the US Embassy is still communicating with him regarding the celebration of the 75th anniversary of Indonesia-US relations on Capitol Hill, USA, coming in August.

The palace also denied that President Jokowi entrusted several names to join the cabinet led by Prabowo in October this year. Coordinator of the President's Special Staff Anak Agung Gde Ngurah Ari Dwipayana asserted that the appointment of ministers in the upcoming cabinet is entirely the prerogative of the elected president after being inaugurated on October 20, 2024.

Also read: President Jokowi's discourse on leading a large coalition begins to be discussed

"President Jokowi is focused on completing the government and development agenda until the end of his term on October 20, 2024," added Ari in writing on March 25.

Earlier, the Secretary-General of the Gerindra Party's Central Executive Board, Ahmad Muzani, stated that a transitional team was not necessary because the victory of Prabowo-Gibran was achieved by carrying the theme of sustainability. Therefore, the Prabowo-Gibran government will continue the policies of the Jokowi-Ma’ruf Amin administration.

"What I understand is that Mr. Prabowo has not thought about the need for a transition team as a way to transition power from the old to the new. Because, according to him, this is continuity," said Muzani at the DPR Building in early March, as quoted by Kompas.tv.