As the campaign for Indonesia's 2024 presidential election officially gets underway, the outgoing president, Joko Widodo, whose second term ends next year, appears willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that the legacy of his eight years in power endures. This legacy is characterized in particular by a rapid industrial development strategy. The current head of state cannot stand for re-election a third time.

To achieve this goal, "Jokowi," as everyone in Indonesia calls him, has taken two astonishing decisions: Firstly, by supporting the candidacy of his former unsuccessful rival in the last two presidential elections, the former special forces officer Prabowo Subianto – a man with a grim reputation as a military figure involved in unscrupulous activities. Secondly, the president has chosen to appoint his own son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, as his running mate for the post of vice president alongside Subianto, who is also defense minister in the Widodo government.

Accused of crimes against humanity for years by NGOs and foreign governments, including the United States, this senior officer, who was the son-in-law of the dictator Suharto until his regime fell in 1998, officially submitted his candidacy, along with his running mate, the president's son, on the final day for nominations, Wednesday, October 25.

Elected in 2014 and reelected in 2019, Widodo continues to maintain sky-high popularity, estimated at 70%. By choosing the president's son as his potential vice president, Subianto, who is currently leading the polls, aims to secure the support of a substantial portion of Widodo's voters, especially those in the president's political stronghold of Surakarta, the large city in Central Java where the outgoing head of state began his career – and where Rakabuming Raka has been mayor since 2021. For this unlikely ticket to see the light of day, the Constitutional Court had to decide on October 16 whether to allow vice-presidential candidates under the legal age of 40 (Gibrang is 36). The court created an exemption for those already serving in a regional elected position, which is the case for the president's son.

This decision, which was easy to see through, intensified suspicions of "dynasty politics" against the president. This was all the more so as in 2020, the Supreme Court had already been criticized for having opportunely lifted the ban on the children of presidents running for regional governorships. The fact that one of the court's judges was none other than Widodo's brother-in-law and Rakabuming Raka's uncle has not helped matters. Although Widodo hasn't openly declared his endorsement of the Subianto-Rakabuming Raka duo, there's little doubt about his support. On October 24, the Indonesia Onward Coalition, which brings together the various parties supporting candidate Subianto, also received the official backing of a new political formation aimed at young people, which since September has been headed by Widodo's youngest son, 28-year-old Kaesang Pangarep. In Indonesia, 60% of voters are under 39.

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