Speculation on his political future emerged when the Depok branch of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) erected a roadside poster promoting Kaesang as the city’s mayor in May. The billboard bears the image of Kaesang holding a rose with the words “victory for PSI, mayor Kaesang” written above him.

While the billboard was an initiative of PSI, the young culinary entrepreneur confirmed that the party acted on his blessing. “The photos came from me, and PSI gave their support. [...] I gave them [what they needed] as I intend to go all-out," Kaesang told reporters last week during an event in Surakarta, Central Java.

Wearing traditional Muslim attire, Kaesang added fuel to the fire by proclaiming his readiness to be Depok’s number-one man in a video uploaded on his YouTube channel on Saturday. “With the blessing of my family, I, Kaesang Pangarep, am ready to be Depok’s mayor,” Kaesang proclaimed in the video.

Kaesang first hinted at his interest in politics in January during a private family lunch. “[Kaesang] has told me, but I always gave [my children] the freedom to do so. [...] I don’t try to influence them, and I don’t make their decisions for them as they already have their own family,” President Jokowi commented at the time.

If Kaesang were to run for mayor of Depok, he would be the third of the President’s family to run for public office. Kaesang’s older brother, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, and the President’s son-in-law, Bobby Nasution, ran as the mayors of Surakarta and Medan in the 2020 regional elections, where they won their respective mayoral races.