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Jokowi’s blank check for Prabowo in exchange for son and Nusantara
Ignoring public criticism about Gibran's lack of capability and maturity, Jokowi believes his son will be more than able to realize his unaccomplished mission of moving the capital to Nusantara.
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Close look: President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo inspects the progress on a toll road that will lead to the new capital city of Nusantara in East Kalimantan on Feb. 22, 2023. (Presidential Secretariat's Press Bureau/Laily Rachev)
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo may have quietly struck a deal with Prabowo Subianto that includes a blank check for the defense minister in exchange for the vice presidential nomination of the President’s eldest son, Gibran Rakabumi Raka, and the continuation of Jokowi’s signature project: construction of the new capital city, Nusantara, in East Kalimantan.
Suppose you have regularly followed President Jokowi’s enthusiastic remarks and actions to accelerate his dream project. In that case, you will very likely share my view that he is ready to write Prabowo the blank check, perhaps he has already done so.
The blank check means Prabowo will get whatever he needs to win the presidential race on Feb. 14, 2024, including protection and support from the state apparatus such as the military and the police, who are supposed to remain neutral as they did in the five elections held after the sweeping reforms of 1998.
The signals of the state apparatus’ breach of impartiality were on display when posters of rival presidential candidate pair Ganjar Pranowo and Mahfud MD were pulled down in several cities in Bali and North Sumatra, both known as traditional strongholds of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) that has nominated the duo.
The capital relocation to Nusantara is one of the everlasting legacies Jokowi intends to leave before he steps down in October next year. The construction of Nusantara is under way and will take many years to complete.
President Jokowi announced his bid to relocate the capital city from Jakarta in 2019. At that time, many believed he could make it during his second term, but the COVID-19 pandemic blew up the plan. For almost three years the government had to focus on efforts to keep the outbreak under control and reallocate funds to fight the health crisis and its repercussions on the national economy, forcing Jokowi to shelve the Nusantara project.
The President has prepared all the resources for the new capital city's construction. A comprehensive road map, including a legal umbrella, has been put in place, but he has to hand over the job to his son, Gibran, knowing that his presidential term will end in October 2024. His maneuvers to extend his tenure failed too.
