Jokowi's son Kaesang touted as candidate for Bekasi mayor
JAKARTA: After being considered as a candidate in either the Jakarta gubernatorial or Surakarta mayoral elections, President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo’s youngest son Kaesang Pangarep (pic), who is also the chairman of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), is now being proposed as one of the candidates in the Bekasi mayoral election in West Java

The nomination was endorsed by supporters of president- and vice president-elect Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the latter being Jokowi’s eldest son.

A group calling itself the Pro Prabowo-Gibran (Pa-Gi) National Volunteers said it had collected a registration form for potential mayoral candidates in Bekasi at the National Awakening Party (PKB) office last Monday (May 6), on behalf of Kaesang.

Pro Pa-Gi chairman Ricard Efendi Siregar claimed the action was taken “to cater to the wishes and requests of Bekasi residents” who wanted Kaesang to be their leader.

“We’ve conducted polls and disseminated [information], and it turns out that Bekasi residents need positive change in the future,” Ricard said on Monday as reported by tribunnews.com. They have also reportedly notified the PSI about the matter.

Previously in January, Kaesang visited Bekasi as PSI chairman and distributed sembako (staple food) packages to the crowd. It is up to Kaesang to submit the paperwork as confirmation of his nomination.

Former businessman Kaesang, who made his first foray into politics in September last year to become PSI chairman, is being considered as a candidate in various regional elections. He was previously mooted as a candidate for Surakarta mayor in Central Java to replace his older brother Gibran who won the Feb 14 presidential election together with president-elect Prabowo.

Recently, Kaesang has also been tapped by the PSI to be nominated as Jakarta’s next governor, as the 29-year-old was believed to be “the best figure” for the top job, the party’s representative said in March.

Jakarta’s gubernatorial role is long considered the perfect stepping stone to becoming the country’s president. Jokowi himself successfully ascended these steps in 2014 after serving as the Jakarta governor for two years.

Following rumours of his possible candidacies in the regional elections this year, Kaesang said he intended to observe the “political dynamics” first before deciding whether or not to run as a contender, Antara reported in late April.

He has yet to comment on plans regarding possible nomination in the Bekasi mayoral election. Jokowi has also declined to comment on the reports.

“Ask the PSI, that is the party’s business. [...] Asking me every little thing about the regional head elections won’t do,” the outgoing president said during his visit to Pasar Baru, Karawang, West Java, on Wednesday, kompas.com reported. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
Indonesia,Kaesang,Bekasi,mayor
JAKARTA: After being considered as a candidate in either the Jakarta gubernatorial or Surakarta mayoral elections, President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo’s youngest son Kaesang Pangarep, who is also the chairman of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), is now being proposed as one of the candidates in the Bekasi mayoral election in West Java