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View all search resultsWith poise and proximity, Erick touted as dark horse VP pick in 2024
Besides his proven track record of working for the government, Erick Thohir has amassed a fortune that gives him a competitive advantage to run for vice president in Indonesia’s high-cost elections.
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F
rom leading the national economy and COVID-19 recovery team to organizing the recent nuptials of his son, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has come to rely on Erick Thohir for both personal and professional matters, which portends a bigger role for the State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister in 2024.
A relative newcomer to Indonesia’s high-level political scene, Erick first came into prominence in 2018 when he led the Indonesian Asian Games Organizing Committee (INASGOC). Despite his lack of political experience, his success led to Erick being appointed as head of Jokowi’s campaign team in 2019 and after the president secured reelection, as SOEs Minister.
As minister, Erick has managed to lead SOEs through the COVID-19 pandemic, notching a profit of Rp 126 trillion (US$8 billion) in 2021, up from just Rp 13 trillion in 2020. President Jokowi has also entrusted Erick with additional tasks, with the minister using his connections in the soccer world to act as an envoy and meeting with FIFA President Gianni Infantino after the Kanjuruhan Stadium disaster in East Java in October.
Besides his proven track record, Erick has amassed quite the fortune, giving him yet another advantage to contest in Indonesia’s high-cost electoral process.
According to his official wealth report (LHKPN), Erick’s wealth of Rp. 2.3 trillion makes him one of the wealthiest active ministers and he has used that wealth to partake in his love for sport in the past. From 2013 to 2018, Erick served as president of Italy’s premier soccer club, Inter Milan and he has owned shares in the United States’ NBA team Philadelphia 76ers as well.
The blossoming relationship between Jokowi and Erick extended into personal space, as evidenced by the latter’s recent role in helping organize the nuptials of Jokowi’s youngest son Kaesang Pangarep, said Sirojudin Abbas, executive director of the Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC) pollster.
“It’s almost impossible for [Jokowi’s family] to ask someone they don’t trust to help prepare a sacred wedding ceremony,” Sirojudin told The Jakarta Post.
