Widodo returned to his hometown with his spouse, Iriana Joko Widodo, on Sunday.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Hours after his inauguration ceremony at the Parliament Complex on Sunday, President Prabowo Subianto sent off his predecessor, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), to his hometown in Surakarta, Central Java.

They left Jakarta's Merdeka Palace around 2:15 p.m. local time following a welcoming ceremony for Prabowo as the 8th President of Indonesia.

Prabowo and Widodo arrived at Halim Perdanakusuma Airbase in East Jakarta at 2:45 p.m. local time in an MV3 Garuda Limousine produced by state-owned company PT Pindad.

Members of the former Onward Indonesia Cabinet joined the farewell at the airfield. They included Airlangga Hartarto, Muhadjir Effendy, Tito Karnavian, Sandiaga Uno, and Erick Thohir.

Widodo's youngest son Kaesang Pangarep, Kaesang's spouse Erina Gudono, and his son-in-law Bobby Nasution were also seen sending off the former president.

Prabowo and members of the previous Cabinet accompanied Widodo to the airport's apron, where an Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) B737 aircraft was kept on standby.

Before boarding the aircraft, Widodo, accompanied by President Prabowo, delivered a statement to the media for several minutes.

Widodo returned to his hometown with his spouse, Iriana Joko Widodo, on Sunday. They waved to the crowd while boarding the aircraft scheduled to fly them to Adi Soemarmo Airport near Surakarta.

As a form of respect to the former president, TNI-AU pilots conducted a fly-past. They flew their fighter jets over the airfield before Widodo's departure.

The former president's aircraft took off from Halim Perdanakusuma Airfield at 3 p.m. local time. Four fighter jets escorted the plane to Surakarta.

Prabowo, 73, and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, 37, took the oath of office for the 2024–2029 term at a People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) plenary session on Sunday.

Related news: Widodo leaves Merdeka Palace after 10 years as president
Related news: President Prabowo thanks his predecessors in inaugural speech

Translator: Andi Firdaus, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Arie Novarina
Copyright © ANTARA 2024