Indonesian president to return to birthplace once leaving office

JAKARTA, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) — Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo, known popularly as Jokowi, said here on Tuesday that he would retire and return to his hometown of Surakarta in Central Java upon ending his second term next week.
Jokowi, who has been in office since 2014, made the statement when attending a forum in Jakarta earlier in the day.
“On the afternoon of Oct. 20, I will return to Solo,” said Jokowi, referring to the short name for Surakarta.
The president also said that he would take a break immediately upon arriving in his hometown and might not attend the inauguration of the incoming government of president-elect Prabowo Subianto and vice president-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka in person.
Prabowo and Gibran were scheduled to take office on Oct. 20 in the Senayan legislative complex in South Jakarta. ■