REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party Chairman Prabowo Subianto stood and saluted when President Joko Widodo mentioned his name in his speech at the presidential inauguration taking place at the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) here Monday (20/10).
Besides Prabowo, President Joko Widodo also mentioned the name of Hatta Rajasa and those of former presidents and vice presidents of the country who attended the inauguration.
Last Friday, Joko Widodo met Prabowo, his rival at the recent presidential election. The meeting itself was highly appreciated by various elements of the Indonesian society because it had cooled down political tensions.
In his speech, President Joko Widodo has called on the entire nation to work hard and work together in building the country for the sake of better and stronger Indonesia.
He also reminded Indonesians of his strong belief that maritime is the country's future. Therefore, his government would be serious in developing the country's maritime sectors.
The country's new president's inauguration was not only attended by Indonesia's top figures but also a number of foreign leaders.
Among them were Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, and PNG Governor General Michael Ogjio. US Secretary of State John Kerry also attended the inauguration.
In his message on President Joko Widodo's inauguration, Prime Minister Tony Abbott has stated that Australia wants Joko Widodo to succeed because a strong, prospering, democratic Indonesia has so much to offer the world.
"President Jokowi now takes office with enormous goodwill - in his own country and in ours," Abbott, who is attending the presidential inauguration, said.