Gibran Rakabuming Raka Openly Wants to Run in Solo Regional Head Election on Today's Memory, November 10, 2019

JAKARTA – Today's memory, five years ago, November 10, 2019, Gibran Rakabuming Raka openly wanted to run as a mayoral candidate in the 2020 Solo Pilkada. Gibran expressed his desire to run because he wanted to build the city of Solo.

He considered it time for young people to lead. Previously, President Joko Widodo's (Joko) son was known to be active in the business world. That focus made Gibran not want to enter politics. Jokowi also answered many times that it was not yet time for his son to enter the political arena.

President Jokowi was once considered an inspirational figure because he allowed his children to pursue jobs outside of politics. His children had no intention of entering politics. They chose a path in life as businessmen.

That path was considered a form of their love for the business world. Gibran Rakabuming Raka, for example. Jokowi's son is often the target of questions regarding his future career.

Gibran firmly said that he was not interested in politics from the beginning of his parents' first term as leaders of Indonesia. He just focused on building various businesses. It is possible that entering politics could damage his extension in the business world. Because, business will be difficult to manage.

Gibran also consistently chooses the business path. He seems not to want a political position. The same questions are asked repeatedly. Sometimes making Gibran indifferent to the media crew. Jokowi also always denies that his son will enter politics in the near future.

Jokowi in principle does not prohibit his son from entering the political arena. He has never forced his son to enter politics. His son wants to be a mayor or something else, please go ahead. Jokowi just lets his son work in any field he wants.

Jokowi also thinks that being a mayor is not easy. He feels that his son's figure is not that popular. Gibran's matter of getting a big vote is doubtful.

"If suddenly tomorrow morning he says: Sir, I want to be mayor, who knows. Next week he says: Sir, I'm ready to be mayor. If asked about that, I will say, well, that's it. Until now, I see that my children are not interested in politics. Gibran, Kaesang, and the others are happy in the business world," said Jokowi as quoted by the Tribunnews page, July 18, 2019.

Recently, the issue of Gibran being a strong candidate to advance in the 2020 Solo Pilkada emerged. This indication emerged because Gibran registered himself as a member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) in July 2019. The registration made many people speculate that Gibran would be supported by PDIP Party.

Gibran also received many questions from the media crew. Gibran finally spoke up on November 10, 2019. He openly wanted to run in the Solo Pilkada next year. Gibran never thought it was a political dynasty.

Gibran just felt called to build the city of Solo. He wanted to support many people. He considered the only ones who could change the future of the city of Solo were young people. Not the older generation.

Gibran's desire also drew criticism. Gibran was considered to have the scent of a political dynasty. He was also considered to be taking advantage of his father's power, who is the President of Indonesia.

"People say, why don't you wait for Jokowi to finish being President first? It's too long. Well, the moment is now (to run in the Pilkada). Maybe people say political dynasty and all sorts of things. I'm participating in the contest, I can be elected or not."

"Can lose, can win. If it's a political dynasty, maybe yesterday I asked to be a minister or whatever. If the ones who change are not young people, it won't be possible, because this is a moment for young people, young people become the driving force, not the object that is moved," said Gibran during the Banteng Muda Indonesia (BMI) talk show in the Matraman area, East Jakarta as quoted by kompas.com, November 19, 2019.