Gibran Rakabuming Raka secured his position as the 14th vice president of Indonesia following a 2024 presidential election victory where he and running mate Prabowo Subianto captured nearly 59 percent of the total votes cast. His rapid ascent within the nation's political landscape follows a tenure as the 18th mayor of Surakarta between 2021 and 2024.
Formative Years and Education
Born in 1987 in Surakarta, Indonesia, Gibran spent his initial nine years of schooling within his hometown. He later relocated to Singapore to attend Orchid Park Secondary School. Following his secondary education, he briefly enrolled in an UTS Insearch program before ultimately focusing on his undergraduate studies. He earned a diploma from the Management Development Institute of Singapore in 2010 and later completed a BSc degree in Marketing, which was granted by the University of Bradford.
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Before his political career, Gibran operated several business ventures, including the catering firm Chilli Pari, which he founded in 2010, and the martabak chain Markobar, launched in 2015. Despite initial resistance to entering politics, he registered as a member of PDI-P and campaigned for the Surakarta mayoral election. In 2020, he won the mayoral contest with 86.53 percent of the vote. During his time as mayor, he was identified by Indonesia Indicator as the most popular mayor in 2021 due to his management of COVID-19 and extensive media presence.
Vice-Presidential Campaign and Controversy
Gibran's selection as a vice-presidential candidate in 2024 sparked public discourse regarding nepotism and age requirements. Although the minimum age for candidates was 40, the Constitutional Court, then led by his relative Anwar Usman, established an exception for elected regional leaders in October 2023. Subsequently, the Golkar party endorsed him, and he joined Prabowo Subianto's ticket. The General Elections Commission later faced scrutiny for ethics violations regarding his registration process prior to the adjustment of internal age regulations.
Awards and Recognition
Following his inauguration as vice president in 2024, Gibran received multiple national recognitions. These include the Star of the Upholder of Democracy, the Star of Humanities, the Bintang Bhayangkara Utama, the Cultural Merit Star, the Bintang Jasa Utama, the Bintang Mahaputera Adipurna, and the Star of the Republic of Indonesia, 2nd class. He resigned from his role as mayor of Surakarta on 16 July 2024, shortly after the election results were confirmed.
Fast facts
- Born: 1987, Surakarta
- Citizenship: Indonesia
- Religion: Islam
- Education: Management Development Institute of Singapore
- Mayoral Term: 2021-2024
- Vice President of Indonesia: 2024
- Language: Indonesian
Questions readers ask
What was Gibran Rakabuming Raka's career before politics?
He was a businessman who founded the catering company Chilli Pari in 2010 and the martabak chain Markobar in 2015.
Why was his vice-presidential candidacy controversial?
Critics raised concerns regarding nepotism and his age, as he was 36 at the time of the election, requiring a special constitutional court ruling to allow his candidacy.
Achievements
- Mayor of Surakarta (2021–2024)
- Vice President of Indonesia (from 2024)
- Educated at Orchid Park Secondary School and Management Development Institute of Singapore
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