GIBRAN SET TO BECOME V-P
Outgoing president’s eldest son says he was a nobody before general election
BY his own admission, Gibran Rakabuming Raka was a “nobody” a few months before Indonesia’s elections. Now, the eldest son of outgoing President Joko Widodo looks set to become the country’s youngest-ever vice president.
Gibran’s meteoric rise to running mate of president-in-waiting Prabowo Subianto, who declared victory last week, was fuelled by his father’s popularity.
“Three months ago I was a nobody. I thank Prabowo who has given room for young people like me,” Gibran, 36, told a packed arena here after polls closed on Feb 14.
“These high figures were because of the young people.”
Official results show Defence Minister Prabowo’s ticket winning a majority with more than two-thirds of votes counted.
The final result is due next month.
Gibran’s success in the polls has raised questions over the influence of Jokowi, as the president is popularly known, with critics accusing him of seeking to instal a political dynasty before he leaves office.
Growing up Gibran was set to follow in his father’s furniture salesman footsteps after studying in Singapore and Australia, but he moved into catering and created a business selling traditional dishes.
He first stepped into politics while Jokowi was serving as president in 2021, winning the mayorship of Central Java’s Surakarta city — Jokowi’s old job.
Gibran ran on behalf of his father’s ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) but later turned his back on it to run with Prabowo.
Jokowi, barred from a third term, leaves office in October, but the idea of another Widodo carrying on his policies has broad appeal in the country.
Indonesia enjoyed steady growth over his two terms and Jokowi is enjoying near-record approval ratings, so his tacit support strapped an election rocket to the Prabowo-Gibran ticket.
“When people see Gibran, they will see Jokowi,” said Ujang Komarudin, a political analyst from Al Azhar University here.
But “the big, strategic matters will be determined by Prabowo”, he added.
Gibran’s business and property investments made him wealthy, according to a 2020 disclosure to the election commission.
Critics accuse him of lacking policy ideas and attempting to mask his shortcomings by demeaning opponents and brushing off questions with one-word answers or jokes that fail to hit the mark.
“As a vice-president, he should talk about policies,” said Ika Idris, political expert at Monash data and democracy research hub here.
“From the way he communicates, he’s not mature enough.”
When Jokowi rose to power in 2014, he did so by appealing to people as a political outsider from humble Javan beginnings.
But his critics say he and Gibran are acting like previous leaders in a country long known for its dynastic politics, who have installed relatives into powerful positions to retain their influence.
In the event that 72-year-old Prabowo steps down or is unable to carry out his duties, lawmakers and regional representatives would have three days to swear in Gibran and two months to choose his vice-president.
Observers believe the political “princeling” is likely already preparing for a presidential run in 2029.
“Once again who you know matters more than one’s merit,” said an employee from a rival presidential campaign, on condition of anonymity.
“It shows that nepotism is back with a bang in Indonesia.”