Mr. Jokowi’s camp seems to be aware of this: PSI recently launched a forceful” Jokowo – philosophy” campaign that prominently featured the names and faces of Mrs. Widod, Pangarep, and Raka on occasion. This highlights their efforts to capitalize on the priest’s recognition and win over voters.
A CAREFUL VICE PRESIDENT?
Even if the couple succeeds in overcoming these obstacles during the campaign, they may still encounter additional governance difficulties. Does the powerful PDI-P support Mr. Subianto’s alliance in his goals?
If this was merely a marriage of convenience, it’s also possible that Mr. Subianto was remove Mr Raka from his position as vice president, which has no real legal authority until appointed by the president.
His latest stance toward Mr. Jokowi could be viewed as one: After his defeat in 2019 and his appointment as defense minister in an effort to promote national unity following a contentious election that saw demonstrations against the results turn deadly, M. Subianto was appointed.
If the PSI, the group headed by Mr. Jokowi’s youngest brother, is unable to win seats in the House of Representatives, he might not have much of an impact. PSI currently lacks political representation because it received just 1.89 percent of the total nationwide vote in 2019, which is less than the 4 % required to allocate seats in the legislature.
The gap between Mr. Jokowi and PDI-P, the political party that first propelled him, his son, and son-in-law to their present positions, may also become unbridgeable.
Both Mr. Subianto and M. Jokowi may be seriously at risk if they decide to run for girlfriend and vice president alongside Raka.
At the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, Made Supriatma is a visiting companion for the Indonesia Studies Program.