The pairing of the youthful mayor of Solo in Central Java with former special forces commander Subianto has confirmed an upending political alliance less than four months out from the election.
It was less than six months ago that Widodo,known as Jokowi,was on stage as the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) unveiled then Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo as its presidential nominee for 2024.
The party,whose matriarch is Megawati Sukarnoputri,the daughter of Indonesia’s first president,Sukarno,had backed Widodo through his rise from furniture salesman to the presidency as well as endorsing Gibran’s own ascent to elected office. It also has the largest representation in Widodo’s multiparty ruling coalition in parliament.
But the president’s son will now contest the election in opposition to PDI-P,of which he is still a member,joining forces with the man his father defeated in 2014 and 2019.
Widodo,whose second and final five-year term finishes next October,said:“I support everybody for the goodness of this country”.
“The duty of parents is just praying because[the children] are already grown up. Don’t interfere with the affairs that our children have already made decisions on. Parents just pray and bless,” he said.