Indonesia’s Prabowo rushes end of Jokowi era with son’s ouster

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto speaks as Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka stands next to him during a news conference following Gibran’s resignation at the Merdeka palace in Jakarta on Thursday. | REUTERS

BLOOMBERG

Nov 13, 2026

The ultimate target of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s shakeup at the top of his country’s politics may be the man who helped propel him to power after leading the country for a decade: former President Joko Widodo.

The resignation on Thursday of his eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, as vice president strips Widodo of his most important remaining foothold in Prabowo’s administration. It also gives Prabowo control over the shortlist for Gibran’s successor, helping him shape the vice presidency and the contest for power in 2029.

“Nobody can beat Prabowo except Jokowi,” said Made Supriatma, visiting fellow in the Indonesia Studies Program at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, using the name by which Widodo is popularly known. “So just get rid of Jokowi and his family forever.”

In a time of both misinformation and too much information,
quality journalism is more crucial than ever.
By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.

SUBSCRIBE NOW