Recently appointed deputy state-owned enterprises (SOEs) minister Rosan Roeslani has resigned from the cabinet to serve as campaign manager for presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, setting up a battle of seasoned businessman turned campaign chiefs for 2024.

Prabowo announced Rosan’s new role during an event with supporters on Wednesday, shortly before he and running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the eldest son of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, registered their candidacy with the General Elections Commission (KPU).

Prabowo introduced Rosan as “chair of the Onward Indonesia Coalition (KIM) campaign team”.

The alliance – the biggest heading into next year’s presidential election – consists of four parties represented in the legislature and five that are not. The Gerindra Party-led coalition was the last to register its presidential ticket, doing so on the final day of the candidate registration period.

A Palace official confirmed that Rosan had tendered his resignation from the cabinet earlier in the week. He had served as deputy minister for just over three months.

“The President has accepted the resignation of deputy SOEs minister Rosan and honorably discharged him on Wednesday,” Ari Dwipayana, presidential expert staff coordinator, said on Thursday.

Rosan, a seasoned businessman, was chair of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) for six years, from 2015 to 2021. He then served as Indonesian ambassador to the United States, before being inducted into the cabinet in July of this year.

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