Indonesian President Joko Widodo waving to the group whereas on his journey to Presidential Palace by carriage through the ceremonial parade on October 20, 2014 in Jakarta, Indonesia when he was sworn in.
Ulet Ifansasti | Getty Photographs Information | Getty Photographs
A yr earlier than stepping down as Indonesia’s president, Joko Widodo is dealing with severe allegations of creating a political dynasty by nepotism.
The 61-year-old, identified at residence as Jokowi, is because of depart workplace in October 2024 after finishing the utmost two phrases as president.
However critics and analysts say the chief, who has loved constantly excessive approval scores all through his close to decade-long tenure, is trying to retain energy by members of his shut household.
1. Eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka
Final month, his eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, 36, was formally named the vice presidential working mate of Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto for the Feb. 14 normal election race underneath the right-wing Gerindra Celebration.
That got here simply days earlier than the nation modified the eligibility standards for presidential or vice-presidential candidates, permitting people underneath the age of 40 to register for both position in the event that they beforehand held regional posts. Gibran is the mayor of Solo.
The constitutional courtroom, which was helmed by the president’s brother-in-law Anwar Usman at the moment, was broadly criticized for altering the legislation, which enabled Jokowi’s son to contest the election. The courtroom’s ethics council has since ordered Anwar to be faraway from his submit as chief justice after discovering him responsible of ethics violations.
Most respondents see this sort of politics as tending to prioritize household pursuits over the pursuits of society.
Kompas Analysis and Improvement
In response to a ballot in mid-October by Kompas Analysis and Improvement, 60.7% of respondents think about the participation of Jokowi’s eldest son Gibran within the election as a type of dynastic politics.
“Most respondents see this kind of politics as tending to prioritize family interests over the interests of society,” Kompas stated in a report. “It is no wonder then that more than half of respondents in this poll stated their disagreement with the practice of dynastic politics.”
2. Youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep
Individually, Jokowi’s youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep, was appointed chairman of the Indonesia Solidarity Celebration (PSI) in September, a couple of days after he formally grew to become a celebration member.
PSI, which launched in 2018, focuses on younger voters by points like girls’s rights, pluralism and corruption. It hopes to safe seats within the Home of Representatives for the primary time in the upcoming election.
3. Son-in-law, Bobby Nasution
Including to Jokowi’s political chessboard is additionally his son-in-law Bobby Nasution, the present mayor of Medan.
Jokowi is “trying to retain political influence through his sons and son-in-law, Medan mayor Bobby Nasution,” stated Julia Lau, senior fellow and co-coordinator of the Indonesia Research Programme at Singapore’s ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute.
Again residence, Jokowi’s loyalists are reportedly outraged, Reuters reported, saying that cupboard ministers inside his inside circle have accused him of searching for to hold on to energy by judicial interference and nepotism.
In response to Reuters, Andi Widjajanto, as soon as Jokowi’s right-hand man, resigned from his submit as governor of the Nationwide Resilience Company after the constitutional courtroom ruling. Andi, who known as the timing of his resignation deliberate, stated: “As someone that worked with Jokowi for a long time I am very, very disappointed in him.”
A political dynasty?
These are “nepotistic strategies,” stated Vedi Hadiz, director and professor on the Asia Institute on the College of Melbourne.
Jokowi’s sons are “part of the broader plan” to kind a political dynasty earlier than he leaves workplace, he continued.
“Kaesang Pangarep’s ascent into the leadership of the PSI is geared to help achieve the aim of gaining victory for the Prabowo-Gibran pairing, as the PSI has moved, also controversially, into the Prabowo orbit lately.”
Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo, second from the appropriate, together with his spouse Iriana Widodo and sons Gibran Rakbuming Raka, far left, and Kaesang Pangarep, far proper, participating within the conventional marriage ceremony ceremony in preparation for the marriage of Jokowi’s daughter in Solo, Central Java on Nov. 7, 2017.
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Lau echoed the identical sentiments.
“Kaesang, 28, is a political neophyte and running on his father’s coattails,” she added, noting how the PSI has now turn out to be “a vehicle to channel the Widodo clan’s aspirations.”
CNBC reached out to Indonesia’s presidential palace for remark however didn’t hear again.
These developments do not bode effectively for the nation’s already fragile state of democracy, which solely emerged 25 years in the past after many years of authoritarian rule.
What is bound is that Widodo is enjoying a dangerous recreation within the final part of his presidency.
Julia Lau
ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute
It additionally weighs closely on Jokowi’s repute. The previous furnishings salesman captured nationwide hearts when he grew to become the nation’s first chief who did not come from a political or army background, elevating hopes of a pushback towards elitist-led techniques.
However as his sons climb up the political ladder, critics are actually drawing comparisons with present political dynasties round Southeast Asia.
“Many liberals and intellectuals in Indonesia are now calling for a deeper look into the corruption and weakening of several democratic institutions in the country, their constitutional court, the anti-corruption commission, etcetera, that has occurred on Widodo’s watch,” stated Lau from ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute.
Following failed makes an attempt by his staff to increase Jokowi’s tenure, she stated, “this latest series of moves seems to be their way of trying to claw a permanent hold for themselves but may well backfire.”
“What is sure is that Widodo is playing a risky game in the last phase of his presidency,” Lau added.
The ‘Jokowi impact’
Analysts are actually anticipating what they name “a Jokowi effect” for the PSI and Gerindra events.
Selecting Gibran, Jokowi’s eldest son, “is a clear signal by Prabowo’s camp to associate its presidential bid with the successes of Jokowi-era programmes and policies,” world analysis agency Asia Home stated in a report.
“The nomination of Gibran as his vice-presidential candidate is likely to win Prabowo votes from Central Java — where Jokowi’s family is originally from — and shift the support of Jokowi’s supporters from Ganjar and PDIP to the Prabowo camp.”
The PDIP, or Indonesian Democratic Celebration of Wrestle, is the nation’s ruling social gathering.
The PSI can also be searching for to capitalize on the recognition of Jokowi, who has unusually excessive approval scores for a two-term president.
“The idea is that the popularity would rub off on Kaesang Pangarep and improve the electoral performance of the PSI,” defined Hadiz from the College of Melbourne.
“If that is accomplished convincingly, the Jokowi family can effectively take complete control of a political party. It never had such control before given the Soekarno family’s grip on the PDIP,” she stated, referring to referring to Indonesia’s first president.
In the meantime, the PDIP is more and more distancing itself from Jokowi. His relationship with PDIP chair Megawati Sukarnoputri is now underneath strain following his sons’ pivot to different events.
“While some interpret Gibran’s candidacy as evidence of Jokowi’s involvement in dynastic politics, it’s also perceived as a snub to PDIP, the party that both supported Jokowi’s presidential bids and backed Gibran when he ran for mayor,” Asia Home stated.