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Congratulations, it’s a boy (president)!
Gibran’s place on Prabowo’s ticket served as a living, breathing manifestation of the connection to the benevolent glow of the Jokowi administration.
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Vice presidential candidate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo's son and current Surakarta mayor, reacts on stage during an election campaign at the Baharuddin Siregar stadium in Lubuk Pakam, North Sumatra on Feb. 7, 2024. (AFP/Kartik Byma)
I have been around long enough to remember when Prabowo Subianto was a stalwart of the old New Order, not a cute, cuddly grandpa. Upon hearing of his first-round victory in the Feb. 14 presidential elections according to the quick count results, I wondered what would happen if this figure, 72, for some reasons stipulated in the Constitution had to leave his 36-year-old vice president, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, in charge of the fourth most-populous country in the world.
Indonesian voters appear to have spoken loudly and clearly that they want the “good times” under Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to continue by plumping for the pairing blessed by the outgoing President.
Gibran’s place on Prabowo’s ticket served as a living, breathing manifestation of the connection to the benevolent glow of the Jokowi administration. In addition, Gibran, Jokowi’s eldest son, likely helped Prabowo by adding some youth to Prabowo’s ticket, to help him attract Indonesia’s many young voters, 52 percent of whom were, like Gibran, under 40 in 2024.
As I watched the campaign, Gibran performed well enough for someone thrust into the limelight in a high-profile position at such a young age. He was well-prepped for debates. Often, his outfit matched Prabowo’s to a T.
From Prabowo-Gibran’s apparent first-round victory, the idea Indonesian voters appear to have bought into, if they thought about it at all, is that Gibran would understudy the experienced Prabowo and learn how to govern a large, complex nation such as Indonesia over a period of years.
But, what if, I mused, Gibran’s apprenticeship was cut short for whatever reason? The future cannot be precisely planned. What if, due to unforeseen circumstances, Gibran rose quickly to the top job, RI 1? It’s a scary thought.
However, let’s remember, this isn’t unthinkable or unprecedented. VPs have had to step up to the presidency in Indonesia before. Recall BJ Habibie ascending to the presidency when Soeharto was forced out in May 1998. Just a few years later, in 2001, Megawati Soekarnoputri replaced Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid when the latter was removed for his mercurial and increasingly high-handed rule.
