Desperate for Joko to hold on to power, angry mobs took to the streets

Recently, there is a very hot situation in Indonesia. Thousands of people of that country took to the streets against the president. On the other hand, Joko Yudodo is calm. The world knows him as the 'Guru of coalition government'. But why did Indonesia's political situation suddenly heat up like this?

Joko became the President of Indonesia in 2014. According to the constitution of that country, no head of state can hold the post of president for more than 10 years. So according to the rules, Joko has to leave the mattress now. But allegation, Joko is not agreeing to leave the mattress. He was ready to block legal hurdles to save the mattress. But there was no last defense. His party opposed the decision.

Finally, Joko nominated Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia's defense minister and former army chief, as the next president. Prabowo won the election last February with a majority. He will take over as Indonesia's president after Joko leaves office in October.

Allegedly, Joko has arranged for both sons to be in important positions in the country's politics even though he can no longer hold the position of president. Joko's younger son Kaisang Pangrep is a popular vlogger in Indonesia. Joko wants 29-year-old Pangrep to sit as Jakarta governor. But the law of that country used to say that if you are not 30 years old, you cannot sit in the seat of the governor.

It has been alleged that under Joko's influence, he introduced a law that would allow a gubernatorial candidate under the age of 30 to file nominations. But he must be 30 at the time of taking the oath.

As a result, Pangrep proved to be easily qualified for the post of governor in terms of age. According to calculations, if Pangrep becomes the governor of Jakarta even if he is not 30 years old at the time of the vote in November, he will be 30 years old when he is sworn in. Pangrep has already submitted his nomination to become the governor of Jakarta.

Meanwhile, Joko has made the eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raake, vice president. He too was stuck in the rut of age.

Indonesia's vice president must be at least 40 years old. But Gibran is currently 36. Allegedly, Joko passed the order from the top court of the country to remove the age barrier of the eldest son. As a result, Gibran fought for the position of vice president with ease. The Indonesian Supreme Court judge who made the ruling is Joko's brother-in-law. There are several allegations of corruption against Gibran. Joko is appointing that boy as vice president.

Gibran is ripe to become vice president after winning a large number of votes in last February's elections. Sitting on the post is just a matter of time. Allegations have been made that Joko is making Praboh the president and his son the vice president to retain his influence in Indonesia. However, Joko has opposed his own government on this. Meghwati Sukarnaputri, the leader of his party PDP-I and the daughter of former President Sukarno, was optimistic about coming to power after Joko. But Joko has almost perfected keeping cronies in government.

Joko's political acumen and influence in Indonesian politics is known as the 'Jokowi Effect'. Diplomatic experts believe that it is also behind the victory of friend Praboh and son Gibran in the 2024 Indonesian presidential election.

However, a section of the country's residents again took to the streets accusing Joko of nepotism and authoritarianism. And because of that, Indonesia is in turmoil.

However, diplomatic experts believe that Meghwati and her close associates are behind the collective protest against Joko.

Source: Anandabazar.

Bangladesh /MP