Prabowo Chooses Gibran, Son of Jokowi, As His VP Candidate for 2024 Elections

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Minister for Defense Prabowo Subianto is choosing the son of President Joko Widodo (Gibran Rakabuming Raka) as his running mate for 2024 elections. Gibran is the mayor of Solo, businessman, and only 36 years old. 

This announcement came just days after the Constitutional Court, in which Gibran's uncle is the current Head of Justice, agreed to revise the age limit in presidential elections, so people under 40 can be nominated as president/vice president in 2024 elections.

"We have agreed to nominate the fellow Gibran Rakabuming Raka as the vice presidential nominee from Indonesia Forward Coalition," said Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta, Sunday (22/10/2023).

Prabowo's coalition is supported by political veterans, including Airlangga Hartarto of Golkar Party and  former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Democratic Party.

For days, Gibran Rakabuming Raka had been evasive to give answers whether he would be nominated.

This nomination also opens a difficult chapter between President Joko Widodo and the Indonesian Democracy Party-Struggle (PDI-Perjuangan) which has been loyally supporting Jokowi and his son Gibran.

PDI-Perjuangan has nominated Governor Ganjar Pranowo of Middle Java and expected Jokowi to support Ganjar.

The speculation of Gibran's vice presidency has also ignited debates about political dynasties in Indonesia. A few years ago, President Jokowi said his children weren't interested in politics. 

Now Jokowi's eldest son is a VP candidate, his son-in-law is the mayor of Medan, and his younger child is a leader of the Indonesia Solidarity Party, a relatively unpopular pro-Jokowi party which failed to get a seat in the parliament in the last election.