Is Indonesian ‘kingmaker’ Joko Widodo planning a political comeback?
Speculation is mounting whether the former Indonesian president might form a new political party to expand his clout
However, ahead of regional elections in November, Widodo re-emerged and actively campaigned for candidates linked to Prabowo’s grand Onward Indonesia Coalition (KIM).
In Central Java, Widodo was photographed riding a white, open-cabin jeep, joining a parade for Ahmad Luthfi, his preferred candidate who won the race to become the province’s governor. The ex-president reportedly distributed election T-shirts, including one that listed his achievements as a leader, to thousands of townspeople.
Wasisto Raharjo Jati, a political analyst with the Jakarta-based National Research and Innovation Agency, said the past few weeks have shown that “Jokowi remains influential,” referring to Widodo by his popular nickname.
“He was a kingmaker for some of the candidates who ended up winning,” Wasisto said. “He has the kind of popularity that can affect how people vote in polling stations.”