Gaspol Today: Who is Quietly Eyeing Prabowo's Position in 2029?

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - President Prabowo Subianto is predicted to run again in the 2029 presidential election landscape.

Political dynamics are once again converging on one key question: who is quietly building strength to challenge Prabowo in the future?

“If from the political parties, I haven’t seen anyone ready to challenge Mr Prabowo at this point,” said senior politician from the National Mandate Party (PAN), Dradjad Hari Wibowo, in the Gaspol! Podcast airing tonight, Monday (27/4/2026) on Kompas.com’s YouTube.

Dradjad stated that the political contest among elites is actually for the position of vice presidential candidate to accompany Prabowo, not as a challenger.

“Many aspire to be potential companions for Mr Prabowo,” he said.

He emphasised that this political strength is not only measured by the presence of ministers in the cabinet but also by formal strength in parliament.

In other words, access to power still heavily depends on electoral legitimacy and strategic positions in the DPR.

Without that, the chances of influencing the direction of national politics become much smaller, including building strength as a challenger to Prabowo in the 2029 presidential election.

“A party isn’t considered just because it has ministers in the cabinet and such; if it doesn’t have seats in the DPR, it’s not taken seriously—I won’t name them, but there are plenty of examples,” said Dradjad.

According to Dradjad, the coattail effect from Jokowi is still considered strong enough to maintain electoral appeal.

Therefore, he believes Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka still has the potential to be re-selected by Prabowo as his running mate in the next term.

“If Mr Jokowi’s popularity remains very high and Mas Gibran gets the coattail effect from Mr Jokowi, then Mr Prabowo would be very rational to invite Mas Gibran back,” said Dradjad.

On the other hand, the chances for other figures like PAN Chairman Zulkifli Hasan remain open, but according to him, it is still too early for the party to set strategies for 2029.

“So if in the future the constellation allows Bang Zul to become Mr Prabowo’s vice presidential candidate, of course we will take it, but for today, it would be silly to talk about it first,” said Dradjad.

So who is most ready to be either an ally or opponent to Prabowo in 2029?

Watch the full story only on the Gaspol Podcast ft Dradjad Hari Wibowo.