Prabowo-Gibran skip side-by-side seating at cabinet meeting

An unusual seating arrangement at a recent Indonesian cabinet meeting has drawn attention, with Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka seated among the coordinating ministers rather than directly beside President Prabowo Subianto. The plenary cabinet meeting, chaired by President Prabowo himself, took place at the State Palace in Jakarta on July 20, 2026.

This deviation from previous protocol, where the Vice President typically sits next to the President, has sparked discussion. Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is also the son of former President Joko Widodo, occupied a seat within the row of coordinating ministers during the session.

The meeting was attended by most ministers of the Red and White Cabinet. President Prabowo Subianto has recently been vocal about various government matters, including his dismay over the handling of a case involving Febrie Adriansyah, his government's resolution of 110 strategic issues in 18 months, and challenges faced during his first 21 months in office related to state wealth loss.

Prabowo also recently praised Indonesia's bullion bank for managing 153 tons of gold and highlighted the consolidation of state-owned enterprises, which reduced their number by 250 in 18 months. He has also spoken about facing criticism for his flagship Free Nutritious Meal program.