Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka met with student representatives protesting the government’s free meals and Red and White Cooperative programs. While student leaders reported a positive dialogue, analysts suggest the engagement is a strategic attempt to build political influence and public visibility ahead of the 2029 presidential election.
On June 18, five university students traveled to eastern Indonesia on a working visit with the Vice-President. This trip occurred three days after Gibran held a closed-door meeting with student representatives who had been protesting two major government initiatives: the free meals program and the Red and White Cooperative plan, which aims to establish thousands of village-run businesses.
Muhammad Abdi Maludin, a student leader from Bung Karno University, stated via a Vice-President’s Office release that Gibran responded positively to student research and concerns. Maludin said the Vice-President intends to audit and consolidate the students’ findings before informing President Prabowo Subianto.
Why are the government’s flagship programs facing scrutiny?
The government’s free meals program has come under pressure following corruption allegations at the National Nutrition Agency (BGN). Earlier in June, agency chief Dadan Hindayana was replaced and arrested, along with two former deputies, during an investigation into alleged procurement irregularities.
During a visit to a primary school in East Nusa Tenggara on June 18, Gibran acknowledged shortcomings in the free meals program’s governance. He instructed officials to accelerate implementation in areas with completed infrastructure and promised to follow up on local concerns.
Despite these statements, analysts suggest Gibran’s actual influence over these programs may be limited. The BGN reports directly to the president, and the Red and White Cooperative initiatives are coordinated by several ministries. Irman Lanti of Padjadjaran University noted that all indications show Gibran has not been involved in shaping these programs, which he said appear to be under the control of the military and the police.
How did the meeting with student protesters spark controversy?
The choice of students invited to the palace has drawn criticism. The participants were from Bung Karno University and Mohammad Husni Thamrin University, which are private institutions considered less prominent than the campuses that traditionally lead Indonesian student protests. On Instagram, commenters such as @wahyu3sunu suggested that involving more prominent universities would have made the engagement look “organic,” while @tomy_hanta described the meeting as a “show.”
Additional allegations regarding the meeting surfaced on June 23. Local news outlet Kompas reported that a student leader from Bung Karno University admitted to receiving 20 million rupiah (S$1,444) following the meeting. Separately, TribunNews reported that other attendees acknowledged receiving between 2 million and 2.5 million rupiah. The purpose and source of these funds remain unclear, but the Presidential Palace stated it is investigating the claims.
What is the political significance of Gibran’s outreach?
Analysts view the outreach as a method to build a political persona. Nicky Fahrizal, a researcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), said the Vice-President is projecting a communicative persona to capitalize on current momentum. Fahrizal identified the 2029 election window as the clear political target.
Edbert Gani Suryahudaya, a researcher at CSIS, described the moves as a “deliberate strategy” to assuage public anger. He suggested the Vice-President is using “lowest-cost” options to maintain relevance, calling the engagement a “performative act” to attract attention. This style of grassroots outreach draws comparisons to the “blusukan” method used by former president Joko Widodo.
However, Suryahudaya noted that Gibran’s political standing remains heavily tied to his father’s legacy. He stated that Gibran has not yet established his own political base. While Gibran has been linked to assignments in Papua and the new capital, Nusantara, analysts say he has largely remained on the sidelines of major policy decisions.
What may happen next for the Vice-President?
Analysts suggest that Gibran’s engagement with critics may not result in major policy shifts due to his limited executive authority. Instead, his actions could serve to raise his national profile and build influence.
Moving forward, Gibran may continue to use “soft power” to shape public perception. According to Fahrizal, while his hard power is bounded, he could potentially use his communication role to spotlight implementation problems and apply informal pressure on those carrying out government programs.
