Legal Literacy - Unlike his predecessors, President Prabowo Subianto's only son, Ragowo Hediprasetyo Djojohadikusumo, better known as Didit Prabowo, did not enter the world of politics. His work is known as a world-class fashion designer based in Paris who has his own fashion label. He is widely known for his haute couture works that often integrate elements of Indonesian culture.
Political dynasty
Former President Jokowi's children are all involved in the world of politics, a realm that relatively quickly leads to power. After Jokowi moved from the Mayor of Solo to the Governor of DKI Jakarta, Gibran Rakabuming Raka—his second son—managed to occupy the Mayor of Solo's seat. His nomination process at that time caused controversy, including within the internal party that supported him, PDI Perjuangan.
Gibran's political steps then progressed without significant obstacles. Not even a full term as Mayor of Solo, he jumped into the Presidential and Vice Presidential Election contest, paired with Prabowo Subianto, and emerged as the winner. This victory was inseparable from the Constitutional Court Decision Number 90/PUU-XXI/2023, often referred to as the “sacred” decision, decided by a panel chaired by Anwar Usman, who incidentally has a family relationship. In fact, in judicial practice, judges should resign if they have a conflict of interest or family relationship with a party with an interest in the case.
Meanwhile, Kahiyang Ayu did not directly enter the world of politics. However, her husband, Bobby Nasution, relatively suddenly participated in the Medan Mayor Election contest, North Sumatra, and managed to win, even though he was not a politician rooted in the area. Now Bobby even holds the number one position in North Sumatra Province as Governor.
As for Jokowi's youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep, he chose the political path by directly taking over the political vehicle of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) as Chairman. The public suspects that PSI will be used as a vehicle for family politics Jokowi in the upcoming election contest.
Through Gibran, Kaesang, and his son-in-law Bobby Nasution, Jokowi seems to be building a political dynasty or political family. A political dynasty refers to a pattern of power that is exercised hereditarily within a family circle bound by blood or marriage, with the aim of obtaining or maintaining power. Literally, a political dynasty means the filling of public office that takes place across generations within one family. This condition is feared to open up opportunities for fraud due to the intervention of power, especially when family members are involved in electoral politics.
Footsteps of the president's children
The phenomenon of political dynasties in Indonesia is often referred to since the era of the first President of the Republic of Indonesia, Ir. Soekarno. His daughter, Megawati Soekarnoputri, pursued a brilliant political career as General Chair of PDI Perjuangan and reached its peak by occupying the seat of President of the Republic of Indonesia in the 2001–2004 period. Megawati's political footsteps were then followed by Puan Maharani and Prananda Prabowo. Currently, Puan Maharani serves as Chair of the Indonesian House of Representatives, while Prananda Prabowo is active as an administrator of the Central Leadership Council of PDI Perjuangan.
The second President of the Republic of Indonesia, Soeharto, also showed a similar pattern. During his leadership, he appointed Siti Hardijanti Rukmana or Mbak Tutut as Minister of Social Affairs. In addition, Hutomo Mandala Putra (Tommy Soeharto) founded the Berkarya Party and became its General Chair, Siti Hediati Hariyadi (Titiek Soeharto) was active in the Golkar Party and once served as Deputy Chair of the MPR, and Bambang Trihatmodjo who also served as an administrator of the Golkar DPP.
In the reform era, the sixth President of the Republic of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), began his political career as Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs under the government of Megawati Soekarnoputri. Through the Democratic Party, SBY was then elected as President of the Republic of Indonesia. His son, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY), continued his leadership as General Chair of the Democratic Party to this day. Previously, AHY was a middle-ranking officer in the Indonesian Army who chose to take off his military uniform to plunge totally into the world of politics. At the end of President Jokowi's administration, AHY was appointed as Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/Head of BPN. In the Red and White Cabinet of Prabowo Subianto's government, AHY now serves as Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development.
Leaders are made, not born
In reality, it is not Gibran, Mbak Tutut, Megawati, or AHY's fault for being born from the womb of a president's wife. No one can choose from whose womb they are born. Quoting Mohamad Sobary's writing on social media, there is an old proverb that reads, “It's not mother's fault for conceiving.” This proverb reminds us that a person's success or failure is actually the result of their own efforts. If your destiny is good, it is the result of your hard work. If the opposite is true, it is “your own fault”.
The proverb contains deep contemplation, becoming a kind of “Benggala mirror” for everyone to reflect on and cultivate their own lives. In line with that, there is a popular expression: leaders are made, not born—pemimpin dibuat, bukan dilahirkan.
In other words, becoming a leader is a process that anyone can undertake through education, training, skills, experience, professionalism, and hard work. Leadership does not necessarily arise simply because someone is born into a ruling family. Nevertheless, it is undeniable that being born into an official's family often provides added value that is not possessed by those from ordinary families.
Reference sources
- Literasihukum.com
- Wikipedia
- Various social media and online media
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