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Megawati's soon-to-be war against President Jokowi
If something bad happens to the old president, VP Gibran will get a durian runtuh (windfall) and become the ninth president at such a young age.
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Megawati Sukarnoputri (center), leader of the Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) talks with President Joko “Jokowi“ Widodo (left) on Sept. 29, 2023, as 2024 election candidate Ganjar Pranowo stands next to them before they pose for a group photo during the party's national meeting in Jakarta. (Reuters/Willy Kurniawan)
From Megawati Soekarnoputri’s perspective, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and his eldest son Gibran Rakabuming Raka have acted as if they are above the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) that has launched them into the orbit of Indonesian politics. She will prove that the party’s influence will continue to grow without them.
Both Jokowi and Gibran have intentionally wakened a sleeping tiger and will find the political dynasty they are building will crumble at her behest. The collision between the two leaders has taught us to never betray Megawati, who will lead the party’s quest for a hat trick of presidential and legislative election wins, if necessary by fighting Jokowi, who she catapulted into the highest office in 2014 and 2019.
The Constitutional Court’s ruling on Monday, which paves the way for Surakarta Mayor Gibran to contest the Feb. 14, 2024, presidential election as Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto’s running mate is the peak of Jokowi’s act of betrayal.
Many, even Jokowi's die-hard supporters, were outraged when the Constitutional Court ruled in favor of Gibran in a hearing that reeked of conflict of interest. Chief Justice Anwar Usman, who is President Jokowi’s brother-in-law, hence Gibran’s uncle, was among the five justices who agreed to allow regional leaders to contest presidential elections as an exception to the minimum age requirement stipulated in the 2017 Elections Law.
The critics suspected that the President played a crucial role in pushing the Constitutional Court to change the established age limits, especially because familial ties between him and Anwar.
The President has dismissed the allegations. "I do not interfere in presidential and vice-presidential matters," the President said before leaving for Beijing to attend the 10th anniversary of China's Belt and Road forum.
Jokowi also insisted that he knew nothing about his son's candidacy as Prabowo’s running mate in the February presidential race, saying it is the territory of political parties. Who will believe such an argument? He has frequently displayed a close relationship with Prabowo and as a father he can talk with his son anytime.
