23-10-2023 (JAKARTA) Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto of the Gerindra Party has announced Surakarta Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s eldest son, as his running mate for the upcoming presidential election. The decision was made following a meeting between Prabowo and party leaders from the pro-Prabowo camp, including Airlangga Hartarto of the Golkar Party, Zulkifli Hasan of the National Mandate Party (PAN), Agus Harimurtyi Yudhoyono of the Democratic Party, as well as leaders from non-legislature parties such as the Star Crescent Party (PBB), Gelora, Garuda, and Prima.
During a press conference at his residence in Jakarta on Sunday evening, Prabowo announced, “We have reached a consensus on naming Gibran as a vice-presidential candidate.”
Gibran, aged 36, is now eligible to run for vice president following a recent controversial ruling by the Constitutional Court that expanded the candidacy requirements for the upcoming election to include elected officials under the age of 40.
Gibran has been serving as the mayor of Surakarta since 2020, a position previously held by his father.
On Wednesday, Prabowo and Gibran will officially register their candidacy with the General Elections Commission (KPU), marking the final day of the weeklong registration period.
Two other presidential candidates, former governors Ganjar Pranowo of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and Anies Baswedan, signed up with the KPU on October 19, the first day of the registration period. They were accompanied by their respective running mates, Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD and National Awakening Party (PKB) chair Muhaimin Iskandar.
In recent opinion polls, Prabowo emerged as the frontrunner for the presidential race. An October 2-10 survey conducted by Indikator Politik Indonesia showed Prabowo with the support of 37% of the 4,300 respondents, closely followed by Ganjar, who received 34.5% of the votes, and Anies Baswedan with 21.9%. Approximately 7% of respondents remained undecided. Another poll conducted by the Indonesia Survey Institute (LSI) from October 2-8, which surveyed 1,620 Indonesians, yielded similar results, with Prabowo at 37%, Ganjar at 35.2%, and Anies at 22.7%.
