Indonesia's defense chief picks Widodo's son as running mate
JAKARTA: Indonesia's Defense Minister and presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto said on Sunday he had chosen the eldest son of President Joko Widodo to be his running mate in next year's election. Indonesian Defense Minister and presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto has chosen his eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, as his running mate in the February 2024 election. The choice has sparked criticism that Widodo is trying to create a political dynasty in the country. This comes after a controversial court ruling that anyone elected to public office can run for the presidency and vice presidency. Raka represents his father's ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), but the PDI has instead nominated Ganjar Pranowo, the former governor of Central Java province. The winner will take over from Widodo after two terms in office.
Publié : il y a 2 ans par Agence France-Presse dans World
JAKARTA: Indonesia's Defense Minister and presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto said on Sunday he had chosen the eldest son of President Joko Widodo to be his running mate in next year's election.
The choice of 36-year-old Gibran Rakabuming Raka, currently the mayor of the southern city of Surakarta, as a vice presidential candidate for the February 2024 vote has fueled criticism that Widodo is trying to create a political dynasty in the world's third-largest democracy.
"By consensus, everyone agrees to support Prabowo Subianto as the presidential candidate and Gibran Rakabuming Raka as the vice presidential candidate," the defense chief said in a statement outside his residence in the capital Jakarta.
Representatives of his party coalition, known as Advanced Indonesia, stood behind him as he made the announcement.
It came after a controversial court decision this week that ruled anyone who has been elected to public office can run for the presidency and vice presidency.
That ruling was issued by Chief Justice Anwar Usman, Widodo's brother-in-law.
Raka represents his father's ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), but Widodo has denied any bid to dominate the Southeast Asian nation's politics, insisting that the choice of the country's next leader and vice president belongs to the people.
The PDI-P has instead nominated Ganjar Pranowo, the former governor of Central Java province, who has chosen chief security minister Mahfud MD as his running mate.
It will be the third time Subianto has run for president after losing to Widodo in the previous two elections.
The third challenger for the presidency will be former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan, favored by conservative Muslims and Islamist factions in the Muslim-majority country.
More than 204 million eligible voters are expected to cast their ballots on February 14.
The winner will take over from Widodo after two terms in office since his first election in 2014.
Candidates' registration is open until October 25, and the next president will be sworn in next October, the General Election Commission said.
The PDI-P did not immediately respond to Agence France-Presse's (AFP) request for comment.
Les sujets: Indonesia