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Apologize again
Widodo wore black Bedawi clothing (a native ethnic group in Jakarta) in his state of the nation address, bid farewell to the people and apologized to them for the second time this month.
He said in a 20-minute speech to the People’s Consultative Assembly meeting, an annual tradition ahead of the August 17 Independence Day celebrations, that although he had tried his best, he knew his achievements would not satisfy everyone.
“Vice President Ma’ruf Amin and I apologize. I apologize to every heart that may have been disappointed, every hope that may not have been realized, every dream that may not have been fulfilled,” Mr Widodo said.
His previous apologyDuring the collective prayer event on August 1, the move was called a ploy to gain sympathy by critics.
In last year’s State of the Nation address, Jokowi stressed policy continuity ahead of February’s election while insisting he had no power to decide on presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
Yet ahead of the Feb. 14 election, he rolled out several programs that observers viewed as favoring the eventual winners of the presidential race — Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and Widodo’s son, Vice President-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
His actions were criticized as an attempt to Strengthen his political dynastyespecially after Mr Gibran was allowed to pass a controversial Constitutional Court ruling.
On Friday, House Speaker Puan Maharani, speaking before Jokowi, sharply criticized the results of the presidential election.
She said people could not be blamed for voting that way.
“Were the elections free, honest and fair? I leave that for you to answer… Were the citizens able to make their choices freely, honestly and fairly, free from coercion, control and fear?” she asked.
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