Ahead of Indonesia’s 2024 national polls, Jokowi’s son named youth party chair
- Kaesang Pangarep, 28, will be chair of youth-oriented Indonesian Solidarity Party that is not represented in parliament
- Many analysts see the move as a bid to strengthen outgoing leader Joko Widodo’s attempt to build a political dynasty ahead of elections next year
Jokowi, as the president is popularly known, will complete his second and final term in office next year, but his manoeuvres to install his relatives in positions of political influence have raised eyebrows in a country that only 25 years ago broke free of authoritarian rule.
When he took the top job in 2014, Widodo, a former furniture salesman, had won praise for his meteoric rise through a landscape dominated by military and moneyed elite and political dynasties.
However, political analysts say he has in recent years tried to ensure a legacy of continuing influence through his children.
His oldest son now leads the city of Solo, where Widodo himself was once mayor, while his son-in-law is the mayor of Medan.
The youth-oriented Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) late on Monday named Kaesang Pangarep, 28, as chair.
Kaesang paid tribute to Widodo in a speech.
“I’d like to forge his path in politics for the good,” he said.
