Joko Widodo on Gibran Rakabuming Raka

Joko Widodo, the former president, has demonstrated a strong and active position in promoting the political career of his eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka. This involvement included pushing Gibran to run for mayor of Surakarta, a position the younger man was initially uninterested in, and later engineering his entry into the 2024 vice-presidential race. The president’s efforts, which included breaking with his own party to support Gibran’s candidacy alongside Prabowo Subianto, were crucial for Gibran’s path to office. A key element of this support involved a controversial Constitutional Court ruling that adjusted age eligibility, which many observers linked to the president's desire to maintain influence after his term limits expired.

This maneuvering evolved from initial personal encouragement to significant political orchestration, culminating in the split from his long-time party, the PDI-P. This shift was reportedly motivated by the president's anxiety over securing his power base and legacy outside the presidential palace, as he lacked a political machine of his own. While the president has denied directly meddling in the current administration or unduly influencing his son, he has publicly offered advice, once reminding Gibran not to 'cross the line' by overshadowing the sitting president, indicating continued, albeit now moderated, paternal involvement in his son's political role.