Jakarta. Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto confirmed on Sunday that the selection of Gibran Rakabuming Raka as his running mate was solely his personal decision.

Gibran, the eldest son of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, was chosen by Prabowo amid speculation suggesting that Gibran's appointment was influenced by his father to assert a "political dynasty."

“I personally picked [Gibran] and asked him to become my running mate. There is no such thing as a political dynasty," Prabowo addressed critics during a gathering with his campaign team at the Sentul International Convention Center in Bogor, West Java.

The frontrunner candidate added, "If families entrust their children to this republic, what’s wrong with that? We must appreciate any family allowing their children to contribute to the republic."

Gibran, 36, was formally proposed as a running mate by the Golkar Party, a crucial ally in Prabowo's presidential aspirations. This proposal encountered no resistance from other coalition members.

The mayor of Solo was initially ineligible to contest until the Constitutional Court amended the regulation that requires a candidate to be at least 40 years old in October.

Prabowo rebutted notions of Gibran’s youthfulness affecting his capability, citing historical examples. 

“Some people say that my running mate is too young to govern, whereas we once had the supreme commander [General Soedirman] who led the war against colonial occupation at the age of 29," he said.

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