PSI Considers Kaesang Old Enough To Run For Regional Head Election

Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) Board of Trustees Grace Natalie when met at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Wednesday (15/5/2024). BETWEEN/Rangga Pandu Asmara Jingga

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) Board of Trustees Grace Natalie said PSI Chairman Kaesang Pangarep was old enough to run in the regional head election (Pilkada) as a candidate for regent or mayor candidate.

"For governors, there are not enough provinces. If the district/city level is possible. He is around 29 or 30 (years)," Grace said when met at the Jakarta Presidential Palace, reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, May 15.

Grace appreciates the aspirations of the community and volunteers who want to nominate President Joko Widodo's youngest son to contest as a candidate for Mayor of Bekasi in the simultaneous regional elections in November.

Grace said that there were even volunteers who had taken the selection of candidates for the Bekasi Mayor

However, based on the information he received from the PSI DPP, so far Kaesang has not registered or taken the mayor's candidate form.

Of course, he appreciates the encouragement and high enthusiasm of the community who expects Kaesang to run as a candidate for mayor.

"Once someone takes the form, even though it's volunteers, who don't coordinate with the DPP, it turns out that the enthusiasm of the residents is already high, expecting Mas Kaesang to participate in thelonin," said Grace.

Meanwhile, based on Law Number 10 of 2016 concerning the Election of Governors, Regents and Mayors, someone who wants to run in the 2024 Pilkada must be at least 30 years old for candidates for governor candidates (cagub) and 25 years for candidates for regent/mayor candidates.

"The lowest age is 30 (twenty) years for Candidates for Governors and Candidates for Deputy Governors and 25 (twenty five) years for Candidates for Regents and Candidates for Deputy Regents as well as Candidates for Mayors and Candidates for Deputy Mayors," reads Article 7 Paragraph (2) letter e in the law.

Kaesang Pangarep officially became PSI General Chair in September 2023. Kaesang was only 30 years old on December 25. That way, he is not old enough to run as a candidate for governor and deputy governor candidate.