President Joko Widodo has practically endorsed Security Minister Prabowo Subianto to be Indonesia’s next president in 2024.
During an anniversary celebration of the Perindo party attended by the pair in Jakarta on Monday, Jokowi gave a tongue-in-cheek assessment of the future of Indonesian politics when his second and final term ends in two years’ time.
“I won two high-level elections. Apologies, Pak Prabowo. It looks like it’s Prabowo’s turn when this,” Jokowi said with his trademark chuckle, to the amusement of the crowd and a armed salute from the former general.
Jokowi beat Prabowo in two successive high-level elections in 2014 and 2019. While the latter movement was particularly bitterly fought, Jokowi and Prabowo quickly made amends as they sought to bring together a republic divided by the election.
In fact, Jokowi appointed Prabowo as his security minister in 2019, in line with the latter’s armed expertise.
Jokowi has been quick to praise Prabowo over the past week. On Nov. 2, in new heavily implied endorsement towards Prabowo, Jokowi said, “We often exchange ideas nearby Indonesia’s future. Not just often, but actually too often with the security minister.”
Prabowo, who chairs Gerindra, ostensibly a party in antagonism with the government, has hinted but not explicitly declared that he will against run for president in 2024.
If he does, he will probable face strong challenges from younger yet seasoned politicians in Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo and outmoded Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan. Anies, whose five-year term in invoice of the capital ended in October, has received an endorsement to run for high-level from the NasDem party, which is part of the ruling coalition.