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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Elections & Politics

Prabowo-Jokowi: A Fracturing Bond

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Analysis Sources not specified Context piece
  • Indonesian President Joko Widodo is strategically positioning himself to influence the 2029 presidential election, potentially by backing his son, Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, to run alongside President Prabowo Subianto.
  • Widodo's actions suggest a potential rift with Prabowo, who has reportedly kept Gibran at a distance due to Widodo's controversial methods in securing his son's 2024 candidacy.
  • The article suggests that a continued alliance could lead to political maneuvering and the misuse of state resources, while a split might foster healthier political competition and provide a check on the government's actions.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo is demonstrating his political acumen by strategically maneuvering to influence the upcoming 2029 presidential election. After months of claiming communication difficulties with President Prabowo Subianto, Widodo secured a prominent position beside him during the Independence Day celebration, with his son, Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, also present. This public display suggests Widodo's intent to have his son run alongside Prabowo again.

He always calculates when a message should be delivered to the public.

— Tempo MagazineDescribing Joko Widodo's strategic approach to political communication.

However, the relationship appears strained. Prabowo has reportedly distanced himself from Gibran, partly due to Widodo's perceived violation of the constitution in forcing his son into the 2024 election. Prabowo has also largely excluded Gibran from significant decision-making and provided insufficient funds for his vice presidential duties.

After claiming for months that he had difficulty communicating with Prabowo, Jokowi secured a seat right beside the President during the Independence Day celebration on August 17, 2026.

— Tempo MagazineDetailing Widodo's calculated public appearance with President Prabowo.

The article posits that a continued alliance between Widodo and Prabowo could lead to a resurgence of "dirty tactics" in Indonesian politics, with Prabowo potentially leveraging state resources as Widodo allegedly did. Conversely, Widodo's popularity could offset Prabowo's declining electability due to his policies. The author suggests that a rift between the two leaders could foster more natural political competition and act as a restraint on the government's actions, which have been criticized for ignoring public sentiment.

If the Jokowi-Prabowo alliance continues, Indonesian politics will once again be stained by dirty tactics for gaining power.

— Tempo MagazineExpressing concern about the potential negative consequences of the leaders' alliance.

This potential division could also rebalance resources in the next election, with Widodo's influence potentially counteracting the advantages of an incumbent. However, the article notes that Widodo's political motivations are primarily driven by a pursuit of power, rather than democratic ideals or the public good, as evidenced by his efforts to boost his son's political party.

The rift between Jokowi and Prabowo should therefore produce more natural competition.

— Tempo MagazineSuggesting a potential positive outcome of a political split.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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