The Chief Editors Forum has called for President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo’s neutrality in the 2024 elections, expressing concerns over nepotism and dynastic politics following the controversial appointment of the President's eldest son Gibran Rakabuming Raka as vice presidential candidate.

Gibran's nomination as the running mate for Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto has been marred by a controversial court ruling that eventually led to the removal of Gibran's uncle and then Constitutional Court chief justice, Anwar Usman, from his post.

Anwar was found guilty of a “serious ethics violation” for using his position to sway a court decision that gave exemptions for candidates under the age of 40 who had experience as elected officials to run in presidential elections.

His ethics investigation revolved around apparent conflicts of interest resulting from his kinship with Gibran, who greatly benefitted from the ruling. Gibran, currently the mayor of Surakarta, Central Java, was nominated as Prabowo’s vice presidential candidate only a few days after the court's decision.

The Chief Editors Forum deemed the scandal as "an attempt to manipulate the law" by those in power and "a show of collusion, nepotism and an effort to establish dynastic politics".

Read also: Chief Justice demoted over Gibran ruling

The forum urges the President to maintain his integrity and neutrality during the election season and fairness to all three candidate pairings and to stop all "maneuvers" to back a certain candidate.