15-11-2023 (JAKARTA) Bobby Nasution, the son-in-law of Indonesian President Joko Widodo and the Mayor of Medan City, has been expelled from the Democratic Party of Struggle’s struggle faction for supporting Defense Minister Prabowo’s presidential bid.
According to The Jakarta Post’s report on Tuesday (November 14), an official letter signed by Hashim, the chairman of the Medan branch, and secretary Robbie on Friday (10th), stated that Bobby’s support for another party’s presidential candidate violated party discipline and ethics.
In the upcoming presidential election, the Democratic Party of Struggle has nominated Ganchar, the former governor of Central Java Province, as their candidate, who will be partnered with Mahfoud, the Coordinating Minister of Politics, Law, and Security. However, Bobby publicly expressed his support for the leader of the Greater Indonesia Movement, Prabowo, and his partner, Jibrand, the Mayor of Solo. Gibran, Jokowi’s eldest son and Bobbys brother-in-law, is also involved in Prabowo’s campaign.
“The expulsion of Bobby means that he is no longer qualified to be a member of the Democratic Party of Struggle,” stated Hashem in an interview on Tuesday.
Boydo, the finance secretary of the Medan branch, also commented, saying, “Bobby’s expulsion is to hold him accountable and ensure that he does not underestimate his role as a party member.” The official letter mentioned that Bobby had discussed matters related to his party membership with the Party Central Executive Committee on Monday (6th), and the committee gave him three days to withdraw from the party. However, when the deadline arrived, Bobby did not submit his resignation to the local party leaders nor return his party membership card. He previously stated that he was still seeking an appropriate time to return the membership card.
Although he has not formally resigned from the party, Bobby attended a rally supporting Prabowo and Gibran last Wednesday (8th) and led the supporters in a declaration of support.
In response, Boydo stated, “Morally, he should return the party membership card first, formally submit his resignation, and demonstrate integrity. He should not prioritize the declaration.”
Bobby was elected as the Mayor of Medan City under the Democratic Party’s banner in 2020. On Tuesday, he did not comment on his dismissal but expressed gratitude to the party for its support during his tenure as mayor and hoped for continued support until his term expires next year.
The rift between the Jokowi family and the militant wing of the Democratic Party has deepened following a Constitutional Court ruling last month that cleared Gibran’s candidacy.
Megavati, the leader of the Democratic Party of Struggle, who had remained silent for weeks after Gibran was announced as Prabowo’s partner, broke her silence last Sunday (12th) and called for a “democratic, fair, direct, and universal campaign,” expressing concerns about attempts to undermine Indonesia’s democratic process.
She also stated that electoral fraud “has begun to occur” and urged the public to prevent it.
On Tuesday evening, three groups of presidential and vice-presidential candidates drew lots at the Election Commission building to determine their representative numbers for the upcoming general election. During the event, when Megawati arrived and took her seat, Gibran and his brother Kasan approached her and respectfully touched her hand with their foreheads as a gesture of respect towards the political senior. Prabowo also stepped forward to greet Megawati.
