January 13, 2023
JAKARTA – Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the eldest son of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, has denied rumors that he is planning to run for Jakarta governor.
“Who did you hear it from? There isn’t [any talk], none,” Gibran said in Javanese on the sidelines of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle’s (PDI-P) 50th anniversary gathering in Jakarta on Tuesday, as reported by Tempo.
Asked whether he had been nominated to run for the governorship, Gibran said he would wait for orders from party chair Megawati Soekarnoputri.
“Just wait for it. I’m waiting for orders, orders from Ibu Chair,” said the mayor of Surakarta, adding that he was not making any preparations for such a run.
Speculation has been rife that Gibran will seek to follow in his father’s footsteps by running for Jakarta governor.
The Central Java governorship has also been cited as a possibility. The office is currently held by fellow PDI-P politician Ganjar Pranowo.
Either post could serve as a springboard for an eventual presidential bid. Former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan and Ganjar have consistently ranked among the most electable potential presidential candidates for 2024 in public opinion polls.
A survey by pollster Charta Politika in October 2022 found Gibran to be the most popular possible contender for Central Java governor with 37.7 percent of respondents favoring him. (dre)