Gibran’s nomination as a prospective Vice President has sparked intense discussions in the Indonesian political discourse, according to Vishnu Juwono, a political observer of public policy at the University of Indonesia (UI). He explained that when comparing Gibran with previous Vice Presidents such as Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX, BJ Habibie, and Jusuf Kalla, those figures had extensive political experience in both Indonesia and internationally.
Thus, the upcoming journey of electing the President and Vice President will be a significant challenge for Gibran. Particularly, his limited political experience should be able to convey his vision as a Vice Presidential candidate. “Given Gibran’s limited national political track record, it is a great challenge for him to formulate and articulate his vision as a running mate,” he said, as quoted by Antara.
Considering that Gibran’s political journey is relatively new, it raises public speculation about what he will bring to the table, especially if Prabowo is unable to fulfill his duties or goes abroad.
Although Gibran’s career as the Mayor of Solo received a high level of satisfaction in his work, it should be noted that Gibran only has two years of experience as the Mayor of Solo, with most of his proposed 17 strategic programs still in the development stage.
In addition, when compared on a larger scale, Indonesia has more than 7,200 sub-districts, while Solo has only 5 sub-districts.
Observers believe it is essential for Gibran to convey a comprehensive vision and initiate programs to be implemented alongside Prabowo, covering various fields such as public welfare, law, security, politics, and the economy.
Therefore, Gibran must prepare himself as a Vice Presidential candidate, especially to dispel any doubts the public may have about his leadership in the future. Vishnu also concluded that Gibran’s nomination as a Vice Presidential candidate is a unique opportunity for him.
Particularly to define his political identity in a more substantive manner, rather than solely relying on his father, President Joko Widodo’s high popularity. However, Gibran’s selection demonstrates the involvement of young people in Indonesian politics that is more substantive and policy-oriented rather than mere image-building.
If elected, Gibran will become the youngest Vice President in Indonesian history, surpassing the previous record held by the first Vice President, Muhammad Hatta, who served at the age of 43.
