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PDI-P considering Jokowi’s youngest son for Depok mayoral bid
Kaesang Pangarep, the social media-savvy youngest son of President Jokowi, has made it onto the radar of the ruling PDI-P for a potential bid for the Depok mayoral election in West Java.
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President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, accompanied by his youngest son Kaesang Pangarep, receives Defense Minister and former election rival Prabowo Subianto, who arrived with his son, Didit Hediprasetyo. (The Jakarta Post/Twitter/Jokowi)
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) is considering recruiting Kaesang Pangarep, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s youngest son, and nominating him for the mayorship of Depok, West Java, a senior politician has said.
If he is recruited, Kaesang would be the latest to join Jokowi’s growing political dynasty, made possible with the help of the ruling party.
“I think Kaesang could do well in Depok city. The PDI-P will consider it,” said Puan Maharani, the daughter of PDI-P matriarch Megawati Soekarnoputri, on the margins of a national working meeting in West Java on Tuesday.
However, Puan added, Kaesang would first need to join the party’s rank and file, as he was not currently a member of any political party.
“I will first need to ask Kaesang whether or not he is willing to join,” Puan said, as quoted by kompas.com.
The regional polls were still some time away, the PDI-P’s heir apparent said, noting that there was ample time for social media-savvy Kaesang to make his decision.
Read also: Local PDI-P politicians support Kaesang bid for Depok mayorIf he ends up mounting a challenge in Depok, Kaesang would be following in the footsteps of his elder brother Gibran Rakabuming Raka and his brother-in-law Bobby Nasution, who ran and won in elections backed by the PDI-P in Surakarta, Central Java, and Medan, North Sumatra, respectively.
With the country looking to next year’s general election, a gubernatorial bid in either Jakarta or Central Java is thought to be in the cards for Gibran, who has seen his stock rise following a string of meetings with the nation’s political elites. Bobby could also mount a challenge for the governorship of North Sumatra.
Kaesang, meanwhile, has been warmly welcomed in political circles.
Last month, the Depok branch of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) – a minnow party and fervent supporter of Jokowi and the PDI-P – put up a banner depicting Kaesang holding a rose on Jl. Margonda Raya, one of the city’s main thoroughfares. The rose may be a nod to the PSI’s logo, foretelling Kaesang’s potential bid.
Read also: PSI puts up roadside poster supporting Kaesang bid for Depok mayorThe poster also bore the slogan “PSI menang, walikota Kaesang” (Victory for the PSI, the mayorship for Kaesang).
A senior member of the PSI’s Depok office said the party had arranged for the banner to be made. Kaesang has said he gave his consent and provided the image that was featured.
“I gave it to them. I told them to go all out,” Kaesang said on Sunday, as quoted by kompas.com.
In April, the PDI-P's Depok office said it was open to the idea of Kaesang running for mayor and had even picked a potential running mate should he decide to join the race.
In the same month, a group of people describing themselves as supporters of Central Java Governor and PDI-P presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo declared their support for Kaesang for the Depok mayorship.
