Edbert Gani, an analyst at Indonesia’s Center for Strategic and International Studies, said that as a serving cabinet member and with Jokowi out of the equation, Prabowo could be a strong contender.
“Jokowi’s regime has political investment in Prabowo right now,” Gani said.
“The public sees a much closer and mutually beneficial relationship between the current government and his camp.”
Jokowi has not explicitly endorsed any potential successor and no candidates have formally declared their intent to run for president.
Recent opinion polls show Prabowo among the most popular of the political figures tipped to run, along with Central Java provincial Governor Ganjar Pranowo and Anies Baswedan, governor of the capital Jakarta.
Prabowo arrived at the election commission on Monday with the leader of another coalition party, the National Awakening Party (PKB), fuelling speculation of a political alliance between them.
PKB enjoys support from Nahdlatul Ulama, the biggest Islamic organisation in Indonesia, where religion has been a key factor in recent elections.