Sjafrie Sjamsudin Enters 2029 Presidential Race Talks, Will Prabowo Accept It?

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Public Institute (IPI) survey released on February 9, 2026 has brought a new dynamic in the political map towards the 2029 Presidential Election. The name of the Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin is in the top 10 presidential candidate exchange, standing side by side with a number of national figures such as Anies Baswedan, Ganjar Pranowo, Pramono Anung, Puan Maharani, and Agus Yudhoyono.

Political observer and Director of the Indonesian Political House (RPI) Fernando Emas assessed that the emergence of Sjafrie's name was a signal that should be noted, given his position as an active minister and a close figure to President Prabowo Subianto.

"The position of President Prabowo and Vice President Gibran at the top of the survey is not surprising. However, the presence of Sjafrie's name in the list opens up interesting questions regarding the internal dynamics of the government," said Fernando in Jakarta, February 10.

According to him, Sjafrie is not a new figure in the circle of power. His military background and his closeness to the President make him known as one of the most influential ministers in the cabinet. However, the increasing political popularity is considered to have the potential to create speculation about his political direction in the future.

Fernando also highlighted the issue of differences of opinion within the government regarding national economic policies. He assessed the involvement of the Minister of Defense in economic issues raised questions.

"When a defense minister starts to be active in the economic sphere and enters the radar of presidential candidates, of course the public will read it as part of political positioning," he said.

He compared the situation to the political dynamics in 2004, when Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who was still serving as a minister in Megawati Soekarnoputri's cabinet, decided to run as a presidential candidate and eventually won the election.

Fernando reminded that the history of Indonesian politics shows that personal closeness is not always in line with political loyalty. Therefore, he assessed that the President needed to pay attention to the potential dynamics in his immediate circle.

"Every citizen indeed has the constitutional right to run for office. However, when active officials begin to be associated with political contests, it can affect the focus of government work," he said.

A similar response was delivered by the Coordinator of the Indonesian Youth Front Raya (FPIR) Fauzan Ohorella. He assessed that the survey results were an initial picture of the shift in the power map ahead of 2029.

"In politics, the closest person can become a competitor. The question is how ready to face that dynamic," said Fauzan.

However, both of them emphasized that the survey only reflects the current electability condition and the political dynamics are still very likely to change over time.