Academic Says Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin Could Be New Star in 2029 Presidential Race
Jakarta – An academic from Universitas Nasional (UNAS) Jakarta, Firdaus Syam, has suggested that Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin could potentially become a new force in the 2029 presidential election.
Firdaus made these remarks during a public discussion organised by the Indonesian Youth Congress Central Board on “Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin’s Position in the 2029 Presidential Election: Strategic Position and Political Capital” on Monday, 2 March 2026.
“Defence Minister Sjafrie, from a cultural and political standpoint, has the potential to emerge as a new star in the 2029 presidential election. This is because he holds a strategic position and possesses the character of a fighter, having come from Eastern Indonesia,” Firdaus Syam explained.
According to Firdaus, Sjafrie represents a fighter and warrior. He believes that people of Sulawesi descent are inherently courageous, intelligent, and principled, citing examples such as BJ Habibie, Yusuf Kalla, Amir Yusuf, and Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin.
Meanwhile, Gian Kasogi, a Millennial Political Researcher and Author of “Democracy and Islamic Populism,” described Defence Minister Sjafrie as a political elite who occupies a strategic position as part of President Prabowo Subianto’s inner network.
Recent polling data from the Indonesian Public Institute (IPI) has revealed several new faces entering the field of potential 2029 presidential candidates. These include Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, several provincial governors, and Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa.
“Based on our latest poll results, several new faces have entered the 2029 potential presidential candidate pool, including Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung, North Maluku Governor Sherly Tjoanda, West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi, and Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa,” stated IPI researcher Abdan Sakura.
These new faces have entered the top ten candidates for the 2029 presidential election. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin ranks seventh with an electability rating of 7.5 per cent, followed by Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa at 4.9 per cent and Sherly Tjoanda at 3.8 per cent.
“Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin’s electability is competing closely with several regional leaders, such as former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, who ranks fourth with 8.5 per cent electability, followed by current Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung in fifth place (7.8 per cent electability) and West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi (7.9 per cent),” Abdan explained.
Abdan noted that the emergence of these new faces is driven by several factors affecting their electability, including leadership qualities, public stature, track record, media coverage, integrity, vision and mission, and work programmes.