JAKARTA: Gibran Rakabuming Raka is the youngest vice president in Indonesia’s history after rising to power last year with strong political backing following a boost from his father, former president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
But just six months into office, Gibran has already faced a groundswell of public discontent, with critics persistently seeing him as a symbol of dynastic privilege, while opponents cast doubts on his legitimacy and public image.
The most recent sign of his struggling public image came last month, when he posted his first monologue video on YouTube addressing the crucial role of the younger generation in realising the nation’s goal toward the Golden Indonesia vision, in which the country aims to become an advanced and prosperous nation by 2045.
The monologue is part of his newly launched video series, in which he discusses national issues and public policies in a direct-to-camera style, a move analysts see as an effort to bolster his image among younger Indonesians.
But instead of inspiring hope, the six-minute video titled “Young Generation, Demographic Bonus and the Future of Indonesia” has triggered a wave of criticism, with netizens calling Gibran’s monologue superficial and inauthentic and questioning his qualifications to talk about the subject.
Analyst Yoes Kenawas from Atma Jaya University said the negative sentiment reflects mounting disapproval, particularly from the middle class, of what Gibran has and could offer during his vice presidency following his controversial election nomination.
“There seems to be persistent perception that he didn’t earn his position through competence or experience, but rather that it was handed to him through backroom deals and legal manipulation,” Yoes said, adding that “this is a tough image to shake off”.
Gibran’s rise to vice presidency at the age of 37 is widely seen to be orchestrated by his father Jokowi. He became eligible to run in last year’s election alongside President Prabowo Subianto only after the Constitutional Court, then led by chief justice Anwar Usman who is Jokowi’s brother-in-law, created an exception to the minimum age of 40 years for presidential and vice presidential candidates.
Even in the government, Gibran appears to be struggling to play a meaningful role despite holding the nation’s second-highest office, as seen in his lack of substantial duties beyond ceremonial appearances, exclusion from strategic meetings and minimal engagement in policy decisions.
“Prabowo’s inner circle doesn’t see Gibran as a serious power player,” Yoes said.
“He was included on the election ticket primarily to secure Jokowi’s backing and ensure support from his loyal voter base. But now that the election is over, there’s little incentive to give Gibran a meaningful role.”
State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, who now doubles as presidential spokesperson, did not comment when asked by The Jakarta Post.
Gibran is now also facing calls for replacement from a group of retired military generals, including former vice president Try Sutrisno, who argued that his nomination as a vice presidential candidate in the last election was unconstitutional.
The group also demanded the removal of ministers linked to his father Jokowi.
“[Calls for Gibran’s removal] are part of a broader post-presidency wave of attack toward Jokowi and his family. The moment Jokowi’s term began winding down, scrutiny over his political legacy intensified,” analyst Adi Prayitno said.
“People started questioning whether the efforts to keep the family’s political influence crossed ethical lines. Gibran’s rapid rise, from Surakarta mayor to vice president, only amplified these concerns,” he added.
Prabowo, through Special Presidential Advisor on Political and Security Affairs Wiranto, has responded cautiously to the demands, saying that he respected perspectives shared by the fellow veterans, but stressed that there are constitutional boundaries that need to be upheld.
Gibran has not issued any statement regarding the calls for his impeachment. But his younger brother Kaesang Pangarep, who leads the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), a pro-government party that has no representatives in the legislature, has come to his defence, saying “the President and the Vice President were elected in accordance with the Constitution”. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
