Constitutionally barred from running for another term, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is set to end his tenure as the nation’s top leader next year, but he may not truly leave the political world, as a dynasty solidifies around him that could extend his reach for years to come.

The President said on Wednesday he had given the nod for his youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep, an entrepreneur, YouTuber and soccer club owner, to follow in his footsteps in politics after the latter announced his willingness to run for mayor of Depok, West Java, over the weekend.

“The job of parents is to give their blessing to and pray for [their children],” Jokowi said on Wednesday when asked whether he had given his youngest son the green light to enter politics.

Jokowi said Kaesang and his other children bore the responsibility of making their own decisions.

“I am used to [a tradition in which, when] I have children who are married, the responsibility [of making decisions] falls on them. If I am asked, I will definitely give advice. But if I'm not asked, I won't give advice,” the President said.

After much speculation over whether he would enter a regional contest in 2024, Kaesang said in a short video published on his YouTube channel, “With the blessing of my family, I, Kaesang Pangarep, am ready to be Depok’s number one man.”

Depok, a satellite city of Jakarta, is considered a bastion of politically conservative Islam, with a Setara Institute report published in April naming the city the second least-tolerant city in all of Indonesia. The Islam-based Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) has maintained a stranglehold over the region for the past 15 years, with PKS-backed candidates winning the four previous mayoral elections.

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