Prabowo Woos the TikTok Generation with Gemoy Dance for 2024 Election

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - For the times they are a-changin': while the activists in early 2000s were criticizing Minister for Defense Prabowo Subianto for his human rights problems, now the young generations are starting to love the general for his adorable dance. 

Prabowo is recently becoming viral for his "gemoy dance" which shows his spontaneous dance. His staff and supporters also help to sensationalize the dance online. 

"Gemoy" is a slang to describe someone chubby. At least one of Prabowo's dancing video has received two million likes on TikTok. 

Prabowo debuted his gemoy dance during the public announcement of presidential candidates' number. After he received his number, Prabowo spontaneously and joyfully danced. It later became viral on social media. 

The spokeperson of Prabowo's campaign team, Cheryl Anelia Tanzil, said the word "gemoy" comes from the Gen Z who appreciates Prabowo's originality. 

"For the young generation, Mr. Prabowo appears on public space as himself. Appears different and be who he is. Perhaps not everyone knew about that adorable side of his," said Cheryl.

This will be the first election for many of the 2000s babies in Indonesia. Those who were born in 2005 will be eligible to vote in the 2024 election.

Another viral tactic is using AI to create a cute animated version of Prabowo Subianto.

Some social media users voice concerns Prabowo's tactic to gain votes from the Gen Z (zoomers) who were too young to understand Prabowo's past political controversies.

But it doesn't mean the Gen X and Y (millennials) wouldn't support Prabowo despite being older. During the previous election, Prabowo secured 68 million votes without much help of Gen Z.

This will be Prabowo's third presidential election. He will be facing former Governor of Jakarta Anies Baswedan and Governor of Middle Java Ganjar Pranowo.

Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the mayor of Solo and Prabowo's VP candadate, also recently faced controversy of his educational background. The information of Government of Solo City is written as if Gibran finished his master's degree in Australia. 

"In 2007 Gibran Rakabuming Raka graduated from the Management Development Institute of Singapore and continued his study to Insearch program at University of Technology Sydney Insearch, Sydney, Australia, until graduated in 2010," said the official website of Solo's government.

The presiden't son attempted to quell the rumor by showing his college ceriticate which showed that he graduated from the University of Bradford, resulting in another confusion was about where he actually studied his bachelor's degree. 

Based on the information of Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS), the institution does have partnerships with various UK universities, which explains Gibran's degree. 

However, Gibran was indeed not studying in Australia for his master's degree. Insearch program was a college preparation program. The state news media Antara released an infographic that shows Gibran finished the Insearch program in 2006, not in 2010.