Showdown in Indonesia’s Solo pits Widodo’s dynasty against Megawati’s machine

The rivalry between two of Indonesia’s former presidents is moving onto the political ground where their alliance was first forged, with Joko Widodo’s youngest son preparing to contest the constituency held by Megawati Sukarnoputri’s daughter.Kaesang Pangarep plans to seek a parliamentary seat in Central Java V in 2029. The constituency has been represented since 2009 by House Speaker Puan Maharani – one of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle’s (PDI-P) most prominent figures and the offspring of the woman whose party carried Widodo from Solo’s city hall to the presidency.Kaesang, who chairs the upstart Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), announced the plan at a party meeting in Solo on July 25. Central Java V covers Solo, Boyolali, Klaten and Sukoharjo, combining Widodo’s home base with one of PDI-P’s long-standing strongholds.