Jakarta – Former Jakarta deputy governor Sandiaga Uno is set to join the campaign team for President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's eldest son Gibran Rakabuming Raka and running mate Teguh Prakoso in the upcoming Surakarta mayoral election in Central Java.
The Gerindra Party politician, who ran as party chairman Prabowo Subianto's running mate in the 2019 presidential election, will join Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri and her daughter, senior PDI-P politician Puan Maharani, on the team.
The news about Sandiaga's endorsement of the Gibran-Teguh ticket was confirmed by the President's son himself, who admitted that he was "delighted" with it as he really looked up to the businessman-turned-politician.
"He is my role model, a successful businessman [who turned into a politician]," Gibran said on Friday, as quoted by kompas.com.
Gibran added that his mayoral campaign events were likely to be held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic that requires people to avoid crowds.
The Gibran-Teguh ticket has been endorsed by at least eight parties, including the PDI-P, Gerindra, Golkar and NasDem.
Before dipping his toes into politics, the 33-year-old Gibran was known as a food and beverage entrepreneur who launched various local brands, including martabak (sweet or savory stuffed pancake) joint Markobar and beverage brand Goola.
The President's eldest son previously said that he would pass some of his businesses to his younger brother Kaesang Pangarep.
Sandiaga has also been confirmed as joining the campaign team for the President's son-in-law Bobby Afif Nasution and running mate Aulia Rachman in the Medan mayoral race in North Sumatra.