Jokowi Allows His Son, Gibran, to Run For the Vice Presidency in 2024 Election

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo has allowed his eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, to run for vice presidency. The millennial mayor of Solo has been nominated by the coalition of General Prabowo Subianto.

This nomination came just days after the Constitutional Court revised the age limit for presidential/vice-presidential candidates. Now people under 40, like Gibran, can get nominated if they have previous experiences as regional leaders. 

Gibran's uncle, Anwar Usman, works at the Constitutional Court as the head judge. Anwar Usman married President Jokowi's sister in 2022.

According to a presidential special staff, President Jokowi has approved Gibran's nomination by accepting his son request, as a mayor, to be nominated as a vice president.

This attitude marks a significant U-turn of President Jokowi's stance about his children and politics. Back then, he said his children were not interested in politics, now his two sons and his son-in-law, are all involved in politics.

Now Jokowi said it's up to the people. 

"That is the public who judges," said Jokowi in Jakarta on Tuesday (24/10/2023). "During election, the votes whether in regional election with mayoral election, regental election, gubernatorial election, presidential, all who vote are the people."

Prabowo Subianto also does not seem to be bothered by political dynasty accusation against Gibran Rakabuming Raka. 

"We are dynasty which wants to be dedicated to the people. If Mr. Jokowi's dynasty is dedicated to the people, why? What's wrong?" said Prabowo on Monday.

Putu Merta Surya Putra and Nila Chrisna Yulika contributed to this report.

With the announcement of Gibran as the VP candidate, here is the political map of 2024 presidential election in Indonesia: 

1. Anies Baswedan (former Governor of Jakarta)

Running mate: Muhaimin Iskandar (Deputy Speaker of the People's Representative Council) 

Main political party: National Democratic Party (Nasdem)

Before entering politics, Anies Baswedan was known as an academic. He joined President Jokowi's first cabinet as a minister for education, before resigning to join the gubernatorial election in 2017.

He defeated Vice Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) who was Jokowi's running mate. The election was divisive and Ahok was often became a target of racial insults. The governorship in the capital gave Anies Baswedan a strong political stronghold to amass popularity.

2. Ganjar Pranowo (Governor of Middle Java) 

Running mate: Mahfud MD (Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs)

Main political party: Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDI-Perjuangan)

Ganjar Pranowo is from the same political party as President Joko Widodo:PDI-Perjuangan. He is the youngest presidential candidate for the 2024 election.

The party leader, Megawati Soekarnoputri, said she always prefers a presidential candidate from her own party to show that the cadre program in PDI-Perjuangan is working well.

Ganjar faced scandal after rejecting Israel to play in his province for the World Cup U-20, and Indonesia was eventually cancelled as the host. Despite public backlash, Ganjar was able to navigate the scandal.

3. Prabowo Subianto (Minister for Defense)

Running mate: Gibran Rakabuming Raka (Mayor of Solo) 

Main political party: Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) 

The 2024 election will be Prabowo's third attempt to win presidency. Previously, Jokowi defeated him twice in 2014 and 2019. 

Prabowo is the son-in-law of former President Soeharto and he was appointed as the Commander of Army Strategic Reserve Command in 1998, just a few months before Soeharto's downfall.

A day after Soeharto's resignation, Prabowo was removed from his position by former President Habibie after Commander Wiranto (the head of Indonesian National Armed Forces) reported that Prabowo brought his army without permission into Jakarta.

In his 2006 book, President Habibie told Wiranto to remove Prabowo "before the sunset".

Prabowo was also implicated in human rights violations regarding to the kidnapping of activists. A few years later, Prabowo became active in politics and he was the VP candidate for Megawati Soekarnoputri, but they lost to Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. However, Prabowo is able to gain massive popularity and his party is now the second most powerful in the parliament.