To:p>The Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) said its chairman Kaesang Pangarep, who along with wife Erina Gudono has become the subject of public anger on social media following their luxurious trip to the United States amid nationwide protests, would not contest in any gubernatorial elections in November. Kaesang, the youngest son of outgoing President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, had been tipped to run for governor of either Central Java or Jakarta. The Constitutional Court last week ruled to lower the nomination threshold and keep the minimum age limit of 30 years for candidates at the time they were cleared to run by the General Elections Commission (KPU) next month.
The rulings effectively barred Kaesang from running in the race while restoring hope for more competitive races in November’s regional head elections amid the dominance of political parties allied with Jokowi and president-elect in several of the most populous provinces. Kaesang does not turn 30 until December, after the three-day registration window closes later this week. But nationwide protests flared last week after the House of Representatives rushed to amend election rules that would annul the Constitutional Court's decisions, in order to favor the alliance of Jokowi and his successor Prabowo.
"Following the Constitutional Court rulings – and regardless of whatever decision the KPU and the House will make to respond to the rulings – I’m certain that Kaesang will not contest any local elections in November,” PSI secretary-general Raja Juli Antoni said in a statement on Saturday. “I know exactly that Kaesang obeys the Constitution [which stipulates that a Constitutional Court ruling is final and binding],” said Raja Juli, who is also a deputy minister serving Jokowi's outgoing administration..
