Jokowi's son to make Indonesia VP bid alongside father's old rival

Defense Minister Subianto picks 36-year-old Rakabuming as running mate

20231023 Solo Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka

Gibran Rakabuming, the son of Indonesian President Joko Widodo and the mayor of Solo, speaks to the media on Oct. 19, days before he was nominated to run for vice president. © AFP/Jiji

ERWIDA MAULIA and ISMI DAMAYANTI, Nikkei staff writers

October 23, 2023 09:00 JST

Updated on October 23, 2023 15:18 JST

JAKARTA -- Indonesian presidential hopeful Prabowo Subianto on Sunday named President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming, as his running mate ahead of his official registration for the February vote.

The decision teams Rakabuming with his father's main rival in the last election in 2019, injecting extra drama into the race and raising questions about where Widodo will focus his support.