Ganjar's choice for running mate puts Prabowo on the spot

Presumptive presidential nominee from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle Ganjar Pranowo (left) and his runnning mate Mahfud MD after the party announced the latter as the presumptive vice presidential candidate on Oct 18. - Antara

JAKARTA (The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network): The decision of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) to name popular Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) figure Mahfud MD as Ganjar Pranowo’s running mate, analysts say, could force Prabowo Subianto’s electoral alliance to reconsider its plan to pair the former general with Surakarta Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the eldest son of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

The PDI-P announced its Ganjar-Mahfud ticket on Wednesday (Oct 18) amid speculation that Prabowo would immediately tap Gibran as his running mate, following a controversial Constitutional Court ruling that effectively removed the legal barrier for him to contest the presidential election.