JAKARTA: The eldest son of Indonesian president Joko Widodo is among the “strongest” potential running mates for Prabowo Subianto, a retired general w...
Surakarta's mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is the eldest son of Indonesian President Joko Widodo, talks with an activist during a silent rally in Surakarta, Central Java province, Indonesia, October 16, 2023. REUTERSPIX: The eldest son of Indonesian president Joko Widodo is among the “strongest” potential running mates for Prabowo Subianto, a retired general who is a leading contender in next year’s presidential election, a party official said on Tuesday.
The 36-year-old mayor of Surakarta city was ineligible because of his age until the Constitutional Court on Monday ruled that anyone elected to regional posts can contest the 2024 election regardless of age. Under Indonesia’s constitution, presidents can only serve a maximum two terms, and critics accuse Jokowi of seeking to retain power after leaving office by engineering an alliance between his son and Prabowo.
Besides Gibran, the shortlist of running mates for Prabowo includes East Java governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa and state-owned enterprises minister Erick Thohir, he added.