Indonesian defence minister Prabowo Subianto of Gerinda Party has chosen President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's eldest son Gibran Rakabuming Raka as his running mate for the 2024 presidential election, CNBC Indonesia reported.

The decision was announced following a meeting between Prabowo and his party chairs at Prabowo's residence in South Jakarta.

"We have reached a final consensus and everybody agreed to nominate me as the presidential candidate and Gibran Rakabuming Raka as the running mate for the Forward Indonesia Coalition," Prabowo announced at a press conference on Sunday (Oct. 23) evening at his residence, as quoted by Jakarta Globe.

The 72-year-old presidential hopeful and his 36-year-old running mate will be registering their candidacy with the General Election Commission (KPU) on Wednesday (Oct. 25).

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Change in court ruling

This announcement was made following a change in court ruling that paved the way for Gibran's nomination as vice president.

Last Monday (Oct. 16), the Constitutional Court ruled that candidates under the required age of 40 can contest for the 2024 presidency or vice presidency, provided they have previously held an elected regional office.

The 2017 general election law requires presidential and vice presidential candidates to be at least 40 years old.

This means that Gibran, who is currently an elected mayor of Surakarta, is eligible to contest for the presidential election.

Commenting on Gibran's nomination as Prabowo's vice president candidate, Golkar Party Chairman Airlangga Hartarto said that the younger generation made up the majority of voters, and Gibran fits the role as a vote-getter.

Pursuit of his own political career

Jokowi has commented that as a father, he cannot stop his adult son from the pursuit of his own political career.

Meanwhile, Gibran's current political party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), said that a party member who supports a rival candidate must resign.

The ruling party has nominated former Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo as its nominee for the 2024 presidential election.

Ganjar and his vice presidential candidate registered their candidacy at the KP headquarters on Oct. 19.

Anies Baswedan, the other presidential nominee, also registered himself and his running mate as a candidate on the same day.

Presidential candidates and their running mates are expected to register with the KPU between Oct. 19 to Oct. 25.

Top image via Prabowo Subianto/Facebook