President’s son shows mettle in politics

Ragowo ‘’Didit’’ Hediprasetyo Djojohadikusumo, the only son of President Prabowo Subianto and Siti “Titiek” Hediati Hariyadi, has shown he might be a political player to reckon with in the future, much like his father. During Idul Fitri holidays, Didit moved to connect political bigwigs who were not on good terms, a role that could make him a valuable asset for his father.

On the first day of the Islamic holiday, Didit accompanied his father, who was hosting an open house at the Presidential Palace. Among the most prominent well-wishers were the country’s sixth president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and his extended family members.

Afterward, Didit went on to visit the country’s fifth president, Megawati Soekarnoputi, at her residence on Jl. Teuku Umar, Central Jakarta, before flying to Surakarta, Central Java, for a courtesy visit to the seventh president, Joko ‘’Jokowi’’ Widodo.

Ties between Megawati and Jokowi have slumped to their lowest ebb since they supported rival presidential candidates last year. The enmity climaxed when Megawati’s Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) dismissed Jokowi as a party member early this year.

Prabowo and Yudhoyono have recently been at odds regarding the revision of the Indonesian Military (TNI) Law. Yudhoyono has privately criticized the revision, although his Democratic Party joined the other seven factions in the House of Representatives in endorsing it.

During Ramadan, Didit celebrated his 41st birthday with the children of former presidents. His mother Titiek (daughter of second president Soeharto), Guruh Soekarnoputra (son of founding president Sukarno), Ilham Habibie (son of third president BJ Habibie), Yenny Wahid (daughter of fourth president Abdurrahman Wahid), Puan Maharani (daughter of Megawati), Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (son of Yudhoyono) and Gibran Rakabuming Raka and Kaesang Pangarep (sons of Jokowi) attended the birthday party.

In addition, Didit also designed a wedding dress for Mutiara Baswedan, daughter of Anies Baswedan, Prabowo’s rival in the 2024 presidential race. According to Prabowo Didit presented his design to Mutiara for free.

Didit, who has never been involved in politics, is a popular figure in the fashion world, making his way to the international level through his career as a designer in Europe. His nonpolitical persona has, however, allowed him to approach important actors to convey the messages of his father, a job that even Prabowo’s aides could not deliver.

Prabowo said he taught and encouraged his son to respect everyone, including Prabowo’s political opponents.

Gibran praised Didit for bridging the political elites in the country. Both Gibran and Didit have known each other since Jokowi and Prabowo worked together in the cabinet during Jokowi’s second term.

Gerindra Party executive chairman, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, acknowledged Didit’s key role as Prabowo’s messenger. Didit also contributed much to realizing the long-awaited meeting between Megawati and Prabowo on April 7. No deal was reportedly made during the 90-minute close encounter, but communication barriers between the two have been removed.

Prabowo, whose ascent to power was heavily supported by Jokowi, has built a good rapport with Megawati following their partnership in the 2009 presidential election. The PDI-P is the only party that has noted join the ruling coalition, although it has never claimed itself as the opposition either.

Nevertheless, good ties between Megawati and Prabowo promise political stability for the current administration. The controversial revision of the TNI Law went unchallenged, thanks in part to the PDI-P’s support for the new legislation.

In the next four years, which could be challenging for Prabowo, perhaps the solidarity-making role of Didit will become even more of a necessity.