Jokowi to move office to Surakarta

JAKARTA. While making preparations for his eldest son's wedding next week, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo will not be taking a vacation, but instead will move his office to Surakarta, Central Java, on Tuesday.

The President will do his daily activities and make his private residence on Jl. Kutai Utara, Sumber, in the town into a temporary office.

The spokesperson for the Jokowi family, Anggit Noegroho, said that the presidential staff have made no special preparations to have Jokowi work in his private residence.

“There is no special presidential office in Surakarta and the President does not bring special staff nor ministers during his stay in the town. If he has something to sign or any guests to meet he will do it in his private residence,” Anggit said at a media center here on Saturday (6/6).

The law does not allow the President to take vacations to deal with family matters.

The President and First Lady Iriana were scheduled to attend a series of pre-wedding ceremonies from Tuesday until the wedding ceremony and reception for his eldest son Gibran Rakabuming and Selvi Ananda two days later on June 11.

Thousands of VIP guests, including heads of state institutions, political party leaders and foreign envoys, have been invited to attend the wedding ceremony and reception, but no government officials or civil servants have been involved in the wedding committee.

Anggit said the President has a special room in his private residence to receive VIP guests.

Separately, Surakarta Mayor FX Hadi Rudyatmo said he has also offered his official residence in Lojo Gandrung for the President to use as a temporary office.

“There is no problem if the President wants to use it. The Loji Gandrung residence belongs to the state. If he wants he could use the official residence as his office,” said Hadi. (Ken Maesa)