Jakarta – Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the eldest son of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, applied for membership of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, or PDI-P, in Solo on Monday, signaling his plan to run for mayor of the Central Java city next year.

Gibran arrived alone at the PDI-P's offices in Banjarsari district to hand in the required documents to obtain a membership card.

The president's son was received by local PDI-P leader Joko Santoso, who immediately processed the application. It did not take long for Gibran to receive a brand-new PDI-P membership card.

"Starting this Monday, I am part of the big PDI-P family," Gibran told reporters.

Gibran also asked Joko about the process to join the PDI-P's mayoral candidate list, but the party official said he lacked the authority to answer, as a separate team had been appointed to deal with candidates. The head of the candidacy team was not available at the time.

Gibran said he would follow procedures, adding that he would also accept the party's decision on mayoral candidates.

His father started his political career as mayor of Solo, serving for two terms. In 2012, just before the end of his second term, Jokowi won the Jakarta gubernatorial election. He only served as governor for two years before being elected president.

Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/context/jokowis-son-joins-pdip-signals-bid-for-solo-mayorship