JAKARTA: Indonesia’s Constitutional Court on Monday (Oct 16) ruled that people who have been previously elected to regional posts can contest presidential elections, clearing a path for President Joko Widodo’s son to join the ticket of a leading candidate in next year’s ballot.
The ruling comes amid growing criticism about the deepening of dynastic politics in the world’s third-largest democracy, and the outgoing president’s efforts to retain influence after he steps down next year.
Monday’s court decision comes just days before candidates are expected to officially register in the country’s 2024 elections, and amid widespread speculation that the president’s eldest son and mayor of Surakarta city Gibran Rakabuming Raka, 36, will join as the vice-presidential running mate of Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto.
Gibran did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Indonesia is set to vote in simultaneous presidential and legislative elections on Feb 14, 2024. Prabowo is neck-and-neck in opinion polls with Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, while former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan is a distant third.
