Indonesia's Jokowi turns politics into a family business

One-time furniture maker who fought his way to the top was meant to be different

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Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the eldest son of President Joko Widodo, pictured in Solo on July 17: Gibran is an overwhelming favorite to become mayor of Solo, his father's former position. © Reuters

Ben Bland is the director of the Southeast Asia program at the Lowy Institute and the author of "Man of Contradictions: Joko Widodo and the Struggle to Remake Indonesia"

The children of five of Indonesia's first six presidents followed their parents into politics, reflecting the dynastic power that permeates much of Asia. Indonesia's seventh president, Joko Widodo, was meant to be different.

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