Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the son of President Joko Widodo and running mate of leading presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, has been summoned by Indonesia’s election watchdog over alleged campaign violations. These allegations are associated with milk distribution during Jakarta’s car-free day, according to a report by Antara News.
The General Election Supervisory Board (BAWASLU) purportedly summoned the vice-presidential nominee twice, but, according to Jakpus Dimas Trianto Putro from BAWASLU’s Breach Handling and Data Information Division, Raka has failed to attend.
A summons was sent to Raka’s residence and campaign office to arrange a sit-down for a Wednesday inquest. Notably, the BAWASLU intends to continue its investigation regardless of Raka’s failure to respond to their invitations.
Raka, who was originally indifferent to politics and had a focus on entrepreneurial ventures, became the mayor of Surakarta in Central Java in 2021, following his father’s course. Despite his earlier disinterest in politics, he is now contending for the vice-presidential position in Indonesia’s 2024 General Election, with presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto of the Gerindra Party being his running mate.
The 2024 General Election in Indonesia, which includes the selection of the President and Vice President, Members of the House of Representatives, Members of the Regional Representative Council (DPD), and local legislators, is scheduled for Wednesday, February 14, 2024. A total of 18 national and six local political parties in the province of Aceh are participating in the forthcoming election.