‘Dynasty Emerging’ as President Jokowi’s Influence Looms Over General Elections
Indonesia’s Feb 14 presidential election seems to be dominated more by one man than the three candidates themselves. CNA traces how events to strengthen President Joko Widodo’s legacy have shaped the polls and the country’s politics.
JAKARTA: In what became an iconic event, on Jan 24, reporters crouched in front of Indonesian President Joko Widodo on the tarmac of a Jakarta air force base as they posed him a question that has surfaced repeatedly in the lead-up to the country’s upcoming presidential election: Is the sitting president allowed to take sides for the Feb 14 poll?
This query sums up how the president is proving to be a new kingmaker in Indonesian politics and how the looming poll has turned out to centre more around Jokowi – as he is widely known – than the three presidential candidates themselves: Anies Baswedan, Prabowo Subianto and Ganjar Pranowo.
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Through various moves and remarks, the president has stamped his mark on the election, sparking allegations of him interfering in the electoral process, swaying voters’ support towards his preferred candidate, and seeking to extend his political influence after his presidency ends.
Advocates of fair and democratic elections say the president should remain neutral during the hustings, though the law does not ban state officials from engaging in campaign activities, albeit with certain conditions.
Beyond legal technicalities, however, observers noted how events in recent months and years bear the clues of efforts by Jokowi and the fruition of a strategy that was possibly some years in the making to create his own political dynasty beyond the election.
It started as early as 2019 when rumours of a potential third term for Jokowi surfaced – with some saying he should stay on to steer the country out of the pandemic – despite the constitution limiting the president to two terms.
Then there was the quick ascension of his politically inexperienced children into prominent political roles within various parties and regional governments.
All this culminated in a Constitutional Court decision last October that allowed Jokowi’s elder son Gibran Rakabuming Raka to run for vice-president alongside Mr Prabowo, despite not being of the minimum age as stipulated by law.
Analysts told CNA that Jokowi intends to cement his legacy to ensure his defining policies – some of which have faced challenges – are continued, and that his consistently high approval ratings show he has the leeway to achieve this through perceived undemocratic manoeuvres.
These controversial moves always seem to implicate those closely linked to Jokowi – though never himself – and have raised accusations that the president was orchestrating a masterplan with the chips falling in place just as Indonesia heads to the polls.
Mr Gibran’s partnership with Mr Prabowo has all but confirmed which candidate pair will score Jokowi’s backing. While there have been not-so-subtle clues, Jokowi has not publicly vouched for them.
Back on Jan 24 at the Halim Perdanakusumah Air Base, with the reporters crouching before the new kingmaker-president, it was time to hear from the horse’s mouth.
“A president may campaign. We may take sides. We are public officials, as well as politicians,” Jokowi was quoted as saying by local media, as he stood next to Mr Prabowo – the current Defence Minister – after overseeing the delivery of military planes.
When asked if he himself was taking any side, Jokowi replied with his own question. “Do I?” he said with a smile.
CNA looks back at various events in recent years that have been singled out as moves pivotal to Jokowi’s ability to influence the election and to set up his political dynasty, with observers weighing in on what these moves could mean for Indonesian politics going forward.
Read the full article on Channel News Asia This report is auto-generated from CNA, Diplomat Times holds no responsibility for its content.