Explaining Positionality of Prabowo
Dr. Al Chaidar Abdurrahman Puteh
Department of Anthropology, Malikussaleh University, Lhokseumawe, Aceh
Joko “Jokowi” Widodo concluded his decade-long presidency in October 2024. Despite stepping down from the top office, his influence on Indonesian politics remains significant, largely through his family and continued engagement with the new administration. As the dust settled on Indonesia’s presidential election, and the reality of Prabowo Subianto’s victory became clear, many wondered about the future of former President Joko Widodo’s influence. He was, after all, stepping down, yet his legacy, his network, and his immense popularity remained potent forces.
Then, the reports started to surface, quiet at first, then more frequent and public: ministers, police chiefs, and high-ranking officials weren’t just visiting the outgoing president in Jakarta; they were making pilgrimages to his private residence in Solo. It wasn’t formal state business at the palace; it was a more informal, almost familial gathering at his home, far from the capital’s official glare.
These meetings, observed by the public and media alike, began to paint a striking picture. Why were so many key figures, ostensibly focused on the incoming administration, still gravitating towards the man who would soon be out of office? The imagery quickly took root: Jokowi, the “outgoing” president, was still a central magnet, a source of guidance, perhaps even directives, for the very people who would serve under his successor.
This convergence at his Solo residence, outside the formal structures of power, became the clearest early sign of what many now call the “twin suns phenomenon.” It wasn’t about a literal division of power, but a symbolic one. It suggested that while Prabowo would sit on the “single throne” of the presidency, Jokowi remained a dominant celestial body in Indonesia’s political firmament. His continued ability to convene, influence, and perhaps even orchestrate decisions from his private home, even as his term ended, solidified the perception that Indonesia would operate under the light of two powerful figures, not just one. It was a dramatic unfolding, revealing a power transition more akin to a carefully managed continuity than a clean break.
Jokowi’s Continued Influence
Even after leaving office, Jokowi has been actively meeting with government officials and political figures from his private residence, raising questions about his ongoing sway over President Prabowo Subianto’s administration (Indra, 2025). This continued engagement is seen by some as part of Prabowo’s inclusive approach, bringing together major figures from his coalition (Indra, 2025). Jokowi was also appointed to the supervisory board of Indonesia’s new sovereign wealth fund, Danantara (Indra, 2025).
Many of Jokowi’s former ministers have retained their positions in Prabowo’s cabinet, further suggesting his enduring influence within government institutions (Indonesia at Melbourne, 2024). Some scholars note that Jokowi’s administration was characterized by a concentration of power among elites and the alleged weaponization of law enforcement agencies for political ends (Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, 2024; Indonesia at Melbourne, 2024).
The Rise of a Political Dynasty
A key aspect of Jokowi’s post-presidency landscape is the emergence of his family in politics. His eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, was elected Vice President alongside Prabowo Subianto in the 2024 presidential election. Observers widely credit their victory to Jokowi’s tacit support (Indra, 2025). This move was controversial, with some seeing it as an effort to bend existing laws to allow his son to run, particularly given Gibran’s age at the time of nomination (Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, 2024; The University of Sydney, 2024).
Beyond Gibran, Jokowi’s son-in-law, Bobby Nasution, also serves as the mayor of Medan, one of Indonesia’s largest cities, and his youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep, chairs the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) (Modern Diplomacy, 2024; Brookings, 2024). While Jokowi denies actively building a political dynasty, arguing his children’s entry into politics is their own decision, many analysts view these developments as a clear sign of his efforts to entrench his family’s power and secure a lasting political legacy (East Asia Forum, 2023; Modern Diplomacy, 2024). This trend raises concerns about meritocracy and the concentration of power in elite families within Indonesian politics (Modern Diplomacy, 2024).
Shimada Yuzuru’s work addresses the question of whether Joko Widodo’s administration has led to a “backsliding of democracy” in Indonesia, particularly through an examination of legal changes during his presidency (Shimada, 2024).
Shimada argues that while the transition to Jokowi’s power initially marked a consolidation of democracy in post-authoritarian Indonesia, especially given the reforms after 1998, legislative policies under his administration suggest that the country’s move from authoritarianism to democratization has not fully embraced constitutionalism. This includes limitations on executive power and respect for human rights (Shimada, 2024).
Specifically, Shimada notes that despite competitive elections and strong guarantees for political freedom and media freedom in the post-authoritarian Constitution, the legislation enacted during Jokowi’s presidency indicates a democratic backsliding. This is evidenced by observations such as the government mobilizing state employees and financial resources for the ruling party’s electoral campaigns, controlling mass media to restrict opposition parties’ access, and suppressing freedom of expression among dissenting groups (Shimada, 2024).
Therefore, Shimada Yuzuru’s perspective highlights a nuanced view: while Indonesia maintains outward democratic features, the practical implementation of laws and governance under Jokowi points towards a concerning erosion of democratic principles and a resurgence of authoritarian tendencies.
References
Ary Hermawan. 2024. “Is Jokowi still a political force?” Indonesia at Melbourne. https://indonesiaatmelbourne.unimelb.edu.au/is-jokowi-still-a-political-force/.
Felix Heiduk . 2024. “Setting the Course after Elections in Indonesia.” Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik. https://www.swp-berlin.org/publikation/setting-the-course-after-elections-in-indonesia.
Indra, Radhiyya. 2025. “Indonesian former President Jokowi’s influence casts shadow on Prabowo administration.” Asian News Network. https://asianews.network/indonesian-former-president-jokowis-influence-casts-shadow-on-prabowo-administration/.
Jemma Purdey. 2023. “The Widodo family: Indonesia’s newest political dynasty?” East Asia Forum. https://eastasiaforum.org/2023/03/27/the-widodo-family-indonesias-newest-political-dynasty/.
Natalie Sambhi. 2024. “Indonesia’s eras: Reflections on Jokowi’s legacy and Prabowo’s presidency.” Brookings. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/indonesias-eras-reflections-on-jokowis-legacy-and-prabowos-presidency/.
Sekarsari Sugihartono. 2024. “Jokowi’s Strategic Moves in Securing a Political Dynasty and His Influence Over Judicial Decisions.” Modern Diplomacy. https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2024/08/24/jokowis-strategic-moves-in-securing-a-political-dynasty-and-his-influence-over-judicial-decisions/.
Shimada, Yuzuru. 2024. “Legal Changes during Joko Widodo’s Administration – Backsliding of Democracy?” Politics of Marginalisation in Indonesia: The Jokowi Era, 55(2). Heidelberg Asian Studies Publishing. https://hasp.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/journals/iqas/article/view/27207.
Simon Butt, Tim Lindsey. 2024. “Is Jokowi paving the way for an Indonesian political dynasty?” The University of Sydney. https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2024/01/16/is-jokowi-paving-the-way-for-an-indonesian-political-dynasty.html.
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