If It Is True That Gibran's Candidacy Becomes A Vice Presidential Candidate Driven By Iriana Jokowi, Is That Wrong?

Iriana Jokowi accompanied Gibran Rakabuming Raka during the registration of the candidate for Mayor of Surakarta at the Central Java PDIP DPD Office in Semarang (12/12/2019). (Special)

The name Iriana Jokowi is becoming a hot topic of conversation. He is touted as the main actor who encouraged Gibran Rakabuming Raka to run as a vice presidential candidate.

A number of questions arise about who really wants Gibran to run in the 2024 Presidential Election (Pilpres) contestation even though his political career is said to still smell shallow.

Then news emerged that it was Iriana who won to advance her eldest son as a vice presidential candidate from the Forward Indonesia Coalition (KIM) who carried Prabowo Subianto as president.

Gibran firmly denied the rumors. And the same thing was also expressed by the Daily Chair of Gerindra, Dasco.

"Look, what was said was that we don't know the truth yet. But what is certain is that since Mas Gibran stepped forward there have been issues being sought, right," said Dasco.

Since Gibran's name is said to be running in the 2024 presidential election, there are many questions in the minds of the public.

First, the question of how a Gibran can run in the presidential election even though he does not meet the age limit requirements. Second, Gibran does not have qualified experience in the political realm. The eldest son of President Joko Widodo has only led Surakarta as mayor for two years.

But instantly Gibran seemed to get a red carpet through the decision of the Constitutional Court (MK) which finally allowed the presidential and vice presidential candidates under the age of 40 to advance in the presidential election on the condition that he had or was in the position of regional head elected through the election.

The public is clearly angry with the Constitutional Court's decision. Moreover, looking at the fact that Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Anwar Usman is Jokowi's brother-in-law, which means he is Gibran's uncle.

Long story short, news emerged that Iriana was the mastermind behind Gibran's candidacy as Prabowo's Vice Presidential Candidate. The First Ladyini is even said to have inserted that Gibran will run in the presidential election on various occasions for a large family meeting.

So far, Iriana has never bluntly disclosed whether Gibran's progress was purely his child's wish or was it only his mother's ambition?

But on several occasions, when asked by reporters about Gibran's candidacy, Iriana gave a thumbs up that is often interpreted as a sign of agreement.

Iriana, and other mothers in the world, certainly want the best for their children. However, it must be seen whether something forced will have a good impact or vice versa.

Senior psychologist Tika Bisono does not see anything strange with the desire of a mother to encourage her child's progress. However, according to him, this has the potential to have a bad impact.

"Parents who want their children to come forward are certainly not wrong. In fact, parents should encourage their children to move forward. From a parent's point of view, this is nothing wrong," said Tika Bisono to VOI.

"But when this push comes in the wrong direction, then this push is wrong," he added.

Iriana, according to a number of sources, made political jokes to fulfill her ambitions. He is reportedly 'tergerilya' for a long time. Not only raising a big family, Iriana is also said to be actively asking for the support of community organizations and asking for the support of a number of entrepreneurs in Solo. These entrepreneurs were also Jokowi's friends when he was still active in the furniture business.

A senior member of HIPMI, Sharif Cicip Sutardjo, denied Iriana's alleged special lobbying. However, he did not deny that some HIPMI members gave their support to Prabowo-Gibran.

"I'm also joining the Prabowo-Gibran National Campaign Team," said Cicip.

Meanwhile, Respati Ardi, Chairman of HIPMI Solo, said that a number of members in his organization did provide support to Gibran, but he denied that there were parties who gave the instruction.

"We support Gibran as a figure we think represents young people," he said.

Gibran, who later became Prabowo's vice presidential candidate, was indeed welcomed by many parties. He is said to represent the voice of young people, who are the most voters during the 2024 presidential election.

But on the one hand, Gibran's experience as a leader is questionable. At the age of only 36 years, Gibran has no amazing action in the world of politics.

He only jumped into the political arena shortly before advancing as in the 2020 Surakarta Pilkada. Iriana was considered too hasty to throw Gibran, so that it could harm her own child.

When then pushing in the wrong direction, this is wrong. Uncompetitive, not on time, not in a mental situation," Tika Bisono asserted.

This is even a 'nyeburin' child. Nyeburin this child is so bad, there is no good. Encouraging something negative will also lead to negative and the most losing is the forced human being," said Tika.