Kaesang Pangarep is Determined to Become Depok's Mayor: What About the City's Poverty Rate?

President Joko Widodo's youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep, is determined to run for mayor of Depok in 2024. He made this statement after receiving permission from his family.

"My name is Kaesang Pangarep. I have received permission and blessings from my family. God willing, I am ready to be Depok's first [mayor]. I ask for your support. Merdeka!" Kaesang said in a video titled *Klarifikasi, Saya Buka Suara* (Clarification, I Speak Up) on his YouTube channel, Kaesang Pangarep by GK Hebat, as quoted by *Katadata* on Saturday, June 10, 2023.

News of Kaesang's foray into politics began with billboards expressing the PSI's support for his mayoral candidacy. The billboards read 'PSI Wins, Kaesang Mayor'.

PDI Perjuangan's DPP Chairperson, Puan Maharani, stated that she would ask Kaesang Pangarep about his interest in joining the PDI Perjuangan.

"Later I will ask Mas Kaesang if he is interested in joining PDI Perjuangan?" Puan said in a press conference during the PDI-P's III National Working Meeting (Rakernas) at the Party School in Lenteng Agung, South Jakarta, on Tuesday, June 6.

The Chairperson of the Central Board of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Said Abdullah, is confident that Kaesang Pangarep will join the "bull party" (PDI-P). He believes Kaesang will need a party's support if he truly runs for mayor of the region.

"I am confident that Kaesang will join PDI Perjuangan," Said told reporters at the Senayan Parliament Complex, Jakarta, on Monday, June 12, 2023.

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Aside from the political buzz, Depok still faces several problems. This will be Kaesang's future task to improve the city if he truly occupies the mayor's seat.

One of them is the issue of poverty. According to the Depok City Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), the number of poor people in Depok has actually increased over the past three years.

In 2020, the number reached 60,400 people. This is a significant increase from 2019, which was 49,400 people.

In 2021, the number reached 63,900 people. While in 2022 it was recorded at 64,400 people.

As for the poverty rate, it was 2.45% in 2022; 2.58% in 2021; and 2.53% in 2022.

The increase in the number of poor people is due to the Covid-19 pandemic. At that time, restrictions on public activities were very strict in order to break the chain of virus transmission.

Moreover, Depok's economy relies heavily on the industrial, construction, and trade sectors. Many businesses went bankrupt as a result of the pandemic.

"Poverty in 2020-2021, caused by the impact of Covid-19, is a unique challenge for the Depok government and community," wrote the BPS team.

Along with the development of the Covid-19 vaccine and its vaccination program, Depok's economy gradually recovered. The BPS also measured a slight decrease in the percentage in 2022.

Looking at the trend since 2004, the Depok BPS acknowledges that the poverty trend in this area is fluctuating, but shows a downward trend before the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Since 2004, the poverty rate has consistently decreased from 4.84% in 2004 to 2.07% in 2019," the team wrote.

In general, the Depok BPS states that the percentage of poor people in Depok City is much lower than the national poverty rate and that of West Java Province.

In March 2022, Indonesia's poverty rate was 9.54% and West Java's was 8.06%.

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