JAKARTA: President Joko Widodo’s political dynasty is getting stronger ahead of the simultaneous Regional Head Elections (Pilkada) on November 27.
Not just one, but two new names of members of the presidential family who are familiarly called Jokowi are said to be competing in the regional elections.
KAESANG AND SOLO
President Jokowi’s youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep, is one of the figures said to be running as a candidate for Mayor of Solo.
Research from Solo Raya Polling places the General Chair of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) in the candidate market to replace his older brother Gibran Rakabuming who will start serving as vice president on October 20 2024.
Solo Raya Polling Director Suwardi said that Kaesang was proposed by one of the figures or stakeholders from 19 sources. The 29 year old Singaporean graduate is considered to have strong leadership characteristics, especially in building networks in the central government.
Solo Raya Polling has released the names of 12 potential candidates for the positions of mayor and deputy mayor in the Jokowi family’s hometown.
Apart from Kaesang, several other names that have emerged include the Ruler of the Mangkunegaran Temple, Adipati Mangkunegara Fernandes is the son of former Mayor of Solo FX Hadi Rudyatmo.
Apart from that, the names of Bapilu PDIP Solo Chairman Her Suprabu, RA DPR member Yashinta Sekarwangi Mega who is the daughter of PDIP politician Aria Bima, Chancellor of the University of Surakarta Astrid Widayani, Chairman of the Golkar Party DPD Solo who is also the daughter of senior politician Akbar Tanjung, Sekar Tanjung, and PKS politician Sugeng Riyanto who is also Deputy Chair of the Solo DPRD.
PSI itself is joined by the Golkar Party and Gerindra is ready to express support if Kaesang runs as Mayor of Solo.
“Gusti Bhre (Mangkunegoro “Gerindra and Golkar are also okay,” Chairman of the Central Java DPW PSI, Antonius Yogo Prabowo, told detik Central Java, Saturday (March 9).
ERINA AND SLEMAN
Meanwhile, Erina Sofia Gudono, Kaesang’s wife, is said to be a candidate for regent of Sleman, Yogyakarta.
