President Prabowo Leads Indonesia’s 81st Independence Day Commemoration at Merdeka Palace

Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka arrived at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Monday to attend the country’s 81st Independence Day commemoration.

President Prabowo attended the ceremony wearing traditional national attire consisting of a blue top and trousers, a brown-toned songket cloth and a black cap. Vice President Gibran wore a traditional black outfit from East Nusa Tenggara.

The ceremony formally began with 17 cannon blasts from the direction of the National Monument, accompanied by a long siren, as the proceedings commenced in the courtyard of Merdeka Palace.

President Prabowo was scheduled to read the Proclamation Text, commemorating the declaration of Indonesian independence by national independence leader Soekarno 81 years ago.

Prior to the main ceremony, the Heritage Flag and Proclamation Text were transported from the National Monument to Merdeka Palace aboard the Garuda Prabayaksa royal carriage as part of a ceremonial parade.

Members of the 2025 Purnapaskibraka Duta Pancasila were entrusted with carrying the Heritage Flag and Proclamation Text during the procession.

The Garuda Prabayaksa carriage previously carried Sultana Najwa, a student of SMAN 82 Jakarta, who was assigned to carry the Heritage Flag. Aliah Sakira, a student of SMAN 14 Makassar, was entrusted with carrying the Proclamation Text.

The Paskibraka team assigned to the 2026 Independence Day ceremony at Merdeka Palace is named “Indonesia Berdaulat,” meaning “Sovereign Indonesia.”

Celina Olivia Apriani Theo, a student of State Vocational School 5 in West Kalimantan, was appointed as the bearer of the Red and White Flag during the national ceremony.

The ceremonial parade formed part of a series of events commemorating Indonesia’s 81st Independence Day under the theme “Sovereign, Just, and Prosperous Indonesia,” reflecting the country’s aspirations for national sovereignty, social justice and shared prosperity.