The Chances Of Gibran Rakabuming Following Jokowi's Footsteps

JAKARTA - Solo Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka seems to be being shaken up to become the new leader of the republic. Gibran's name is now being taken into account by a number of elites and political parties.

Lately, Jokowi's eldest son has increasingly become a public conversation because of his performance which is often supported by national-level officials.

After being sworn in, some political figures have already had a relationship with President Jokowi's eldest son. For example, Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, Vice Chairman of Gelora Fahri Hamzah Party, and Chairman of PKB Muhaimin Iskandar.

Not even a month led by Gibran, Solo city was flooded with the arrival of ministers. Such as Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, Minister of Public Works and Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Tohir, and Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas. As well as the Minister of Manpower, Ida Fauziah.

Most highlighted, Gibran met with the former Governor of DKI Jakarta, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama aka Ahok at the Office House, Loji Gandrung, Wednesday, April 7 last night.

Gibran mentioned that the last time Ahok visited Loji Gandrung was in 2012 and met his father, Joko Widodo while serving as mayor. In this meeting, Gibran claimed to be given a lot of input by the President Commissioner of Pertamina. One of them is about leadership.

So is the closeness of the elites to Gibran a signal of support for the 2024 Presidential Election?

A political observer from Al-Azhar University Indonesia Andriadi Achmad, assessed the chances of President Joko Widodo's eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, is very large in the Indonesian political scene.

In fact, according to him, the position of mayor of Solo is still too low considering Gibran is a crown prince.

"As a crown prince, Gibran should have gone directly to the central level, whether a member of the House of Representatives or Jakarta's Governor Election or Central Java's Governor Election. So the position of taking the mayor, I think is still low as crown prince," Andriadi told VOI on Thursday, April 8.

Looking at Jokowi's track record continued Andriadi, the former mayor of Solo has paved the way for regional heads to be able to directly become presidential candidates. Because before, the annexation still includes figures in the ring one Palace.

"Jokowi opens a new map of Indonesian politics. From the mayor, then the governor, and then the president. All this time to be president just from the center, for example, the minister or commander in chief," he explained.

The Executive Director of the Political Communication Studies and Research Centre (PolCom SRC) said Gibran could be projected to follow in Jokowi's footsteps in the next few years. Jan Ethes's father, he said, could raise his level of leadership at the provincial level as governor of Central Java.

"Gibran, most likely he followed in his father's footsteps, maybe different grooves. So now that he's the mayor then can be the governor of central Java, not necessarily Jakarta," said Andriadi.

Andriadi understands, 2024 is too soon for Gibran to taste the presidential contest. However, Kaesang Pangarep's brother already has the capital to be the leader of millennials where he is currently the chairman of KNPI.

"If Jokowi wants momentum (Presidential Election 2024) faster, yes (he can). And if the parliament can support because the parliament is 20 percent. He was plotted to become chairman of the KNPI as a stepping stone. I think Gibran if not in 2024, it could be in 2034. That's political destiny, yes, may need to be prepared," said the observer from Bengkulu.

Furthermore, Andriadi added, Gibran could be more likely if Jokowi's influence continues to become the chairman of the PDIP. Even Gibran could be 'The Next Jokowi'.

"Megawati is looking for a figure to replace internally and externally. One of external is if Jokowi released from the president. If Jokowi holds a political boat whether it is PDIP or otherwise of course Gibran can be a candidate who will be carried forward," said Andriadi.

Al Azhar University Indonesia political observer Ujang Komarudin also projected Solo Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka as a candidate for governor of DKI Jakarta in the 2024 regional elections.

"When viewed from the political construction, 2024 there will be many political contests. There are elections. That means Gibran must choose one of them, whether to be the governor of Central Java, Deputy Governor Candidate of DKI Jakarta or indeed Vice President Candidate," Ujang said when contacted by VOI, Thursday 8 April.

According to Ujang, it is too early to establish Gibran as a President Candidate 2024. Because President Jokowi's eldest son has not seen his achievements in leading Solo which has only been running for a few months.

However, the Executive Director of Indonesia Political Review assessed that Gibran will be placed by PDIP in DKI Jakarta. "I have an instinct he will be Governor Candidate of DKI, that's the direction," explained Ujang.

The reason, he continued, DKI Jakarta is the capital city that is certainly easier to bring Gibran forward as a President Candidate than in Central Java.

"It seems DKI Jakarta is more prestigious because of the capital, for all contests in 2024," Ujang said.

Ujang also agreed that the arrival of Ahok and several national elites are referred to as a signal that Gibran will be a candidate for governor of DKI Jakarta in the upcoming 2024 regional elections.

"It could be that we see a lot of people coming to Gibran. The party chairman met and wanted to support Gibran in DKI Jakarta. That's not a sudden statement, there must have been a plan before. Or is 'testing on the water' to see the response of the community," Ujang explained.

According to him, PDIP as a refugee parliament early on has begun to divide the task to its cadres who become regional heads. Namely, Ganjar Pranowo remained in Central Java while Gibran Rakabuming was withdrawn to DKI Jakarta.

"This is the shared task of PDIP in order to win in Central Java, also in DKI. That's it," said the Executive Director of Indonesia Political Review.

Senior politician of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) Hendrawan Supratikno considered the issue too early to be rolled out. Considering, Gibran has just tasted his leadership as mayor.

"In politics, talking too early only raises noises. In politics, the sense of timing of the sharpness of reading momentum is important. So, do not talk about strategic things before the time comes," Hendrawan told VOI, Thursday, April 8.

The legislator from Central Java reminded Gibran to focus on carrying out his duties as the regional head of Solo.

"Now the duty of state officials is to fulfill the campaign promises and oaths of office," said Hendrawan.

According to Hendrawan, contesting elections in both elections and presidential elections is still a long time to be the discussion of the parliament. So if it is taken seriously today, it only causes noise.

"Still three years, people have been busy reading the signal. Too early, we will be like dancers who dance to the unclear music," he said.