2024 Elections: Mahfud MD Becomes VP Candidate, Jokowi's Son Now Eligible to Get Nominated

On Monday, the Constitutional Court gave a divisive decision to revise the age limit for presidential/vice-presidential nominees. Now people under 40 can be nominated.

That fits very well for the 36-year-old Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the mayor of Solo city and eldest son of President Joko Widodo. 

There has been political speculation that Gibran will be nominated as VP candidate for General Prabowo Subianto. The Solidarity Party of Indonesia, which has a new leader Kaesang Pangarep (Jokowi's youngest child), has openly promoted the idea of young leaders to lead the country. The party then sent a petition to the court so the age limit could be changed.

The Court said no, but Gibran's supporters still could smile since the Constitutional Court granted the other petition that would allow people under 40 could run provided they have experiences as regional leaders. 

The petitioner is a senior law student from Solo.

Gibran denied the court's decision would only benefit him since there are other regents and mayors who are under 40. 

"There are Mas Dico (Dico Mahtado Ganindito, regent of Kendal). Who else? In East Java there are a lot, there is Mr. Emil Dardak (vice governor of East Java), Mas Arifin, Trenggalek (Nur Arifin, vice regent of Trenggalek), Mas Dhito (Hanindhito Pramono, regent of Kediri). Mayor of Medan (Bobby Nasution), Mayor of Bukittinggi Mas Erman. Who else? There are so many," said Gibran on Monday. 

Among those names, only Gibran whose father is a president. Mayor of Medan, Bobby Nasution, is the president's son-in-law. Hanindhito Pramono is the son of Pramono Anung, a minister in Jokowi's cabinet. 

Gibran is currently a member of PDI-Perjuangan. There is a speculation he might join Golkar Party which supports Prabowo Subianto. 

The leader of Golkar, Airlangga Hartarto, said that Gibran would be appropriate for his party. 

"Indeed for the youngsters, it is suitable to wear yellow (color of Golkar)," said Airlangga in Golkar's office, Jakarta.

So far, Gibran has not confirmed any intention of switching.

Meanwhile, PDI-P said on Wednesday they will summon Gibran. The party's Head of Central Executive Board Eriko Sotarduga said that his side was aware of the rumor of Gibran's political move. Gibran is scheduled to meet the Secretary General of PDI-P, Hasto Kristiyanto, in near future. 

Eriko said if Gibran was indeed visiting another party, then it is encouraged that the mayor should speak with PDI-P's official.

"It's not wrong after that to communicate with Mr. Secretary General to convey the results of the talks, or more lucrative offers. That is fine in the political world, in our opinion," Eriko said.

Fachrur Rozie, Devira Prastiwi, Fajar Abrori, Nanda Perdana Putra, and Nila Chrisna Yulika contributed to this report.