Jakarta. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo awarded a special promotion to Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto as an Honorary Army General during the leadership meeting of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and National Police at the TNI Headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta, on Wednesday.

Jokowi was seen wearing a complete civilian outfit in grey, while Prabowo donned the official uniform of the Indonesian Army.

According to Jokowi, Prabowo had already received the Bintang Kehormatan Yudha Dharma Utama (Honorary Star of Military Service) in 2022 for his contributions to the progress of the TNI and the country. Furthermore, Jokowi said the Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, General Agus Subiyanto, proposed that Prabowo be granted a special promotion.

"The award has gone through the verification of the honorary title council," said Jokowi.

The TNI-Polri leadership meeting was attended by General Agus Subiyanto, Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, Army Chief of Staff General Maruli Simanjuntak, Chief of the Navy Admiral Muhammad Ali, and Chief of the Air Force Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo.

Similar honors were previously bestowed upon the 6th President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, and former head of State Intelligence Agency A.M. Hendropriyono.

After the award ceremony, President Jokowi will inspect the TNI-Polri military equipment at the Ahmad Yani Sports Arena at the TNI Headquarters, and Prabowo Subianto will hand over electric vehicles to the TNI commander, police chief, and heads of the military branches. 

Prabowo is likely to succeed Jokowi as the next president, as he and his running mate, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is Jokowi's eldest son, are expected to win the 2024 presidential election based on preliminary results from both quick and official counts. The General Election Commission is expected to officially announce the final results by March 20.