Sara Duterte, vp of the Philippines, and Gibran Rakabuming Raka, vp of Indonesia, are making history because the youngest vice presidents in Southeast Asia.
Sara has been in office since 2022 and Gibran was newly opened in 2024 – they embody a brand new wave of young leadership within the region, infusing their countries’ politics with a spirit of renewal and dynamism. Both leaders are known for his or her engaging approach and powerful give attention to issues that matter to millennials and the broader population.
In the Philippines, Sara Duterte has grow to be a key figure in the federal government, actively shaping domestic policy and interesting in international diplomacy. As the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, she has carved out an independent political profession, prioritizing regional development, education and food security.
Her charisma and commitment to the aspirations of the Filipino people have gained widespread support, especially amongst youth who want leaders who reflect their hopes and dreams.
On the opposite hand, Gibran Rakabuming Raka made a major impact on Indonesia at an especially young age. As the son of President Joko Widodo, Gibran first proved his leadership skills as mayor of Solo before thrusting himself into the national highlight.
His pragmatic leadership style emphasizes the expansion of the digital economy, the event of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and revolutionary management practices. As vp, Gibran can bring a refreshing perspective to Indonesian politics by strengthening the role of the younger generation in national decision-making.
Sarah Duterte
Sara Duterte was born on May 31, 1978 in Davao City, Philippines. She is the daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte and flight attendant Elizabeth Zimmerman. Coming from a wealthy family, her father placed great emphasis on education.
Sara initially studied respiratory therapy at San Pedro College, graduating in 1999. Although she desired to grow to be a midwife, she later focused on law, obtaining a law degree from San Sebastian College in 2005. She passed the exam that very same 12 months. she passed the bar exam and began her profession within the Office of the President of the Supreme Court Romeo Callejo.
Read also: Political turmoil within the Philippines: the Duterte and Marcos families, friends or foe?
Sara’s political profession took off in 2007 when she was elected vice mayor of Davao, serving alongside her father. In 2010, she took over as mayor of Davao, becoming town’s first woman and youngest mayor.
After her term led to 2013, she was re-elected in 2016 to guide Davao again. In 2022, she decided to run for the office of national vp together with Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., representing the Partido Federal and Lakas-CMD coalition.
Gibran Rakabuming Raka
Born on October 1, 1987 in Surakarta, Gibran Rakabuming Raka accomplished his primary and secondary education in his hometown after which enrolled at Orchid Park High School in Singapore. He briefly attended the University of Technology Sydney as a part of a preparatory program before returning to Singapore in 2010 to finish his studies on the Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS).
Gibran’s political journey began when he joined the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and ran for mayor of Solo in 2020. In that election, he and his running mate Teguh Prakosa won a formidable 86.53% of the vote, defeating independent candidates Bagyo Wahyono and FX Suparjo. On February 26, 2021, they were inaugurated as Mayor and Vice Mayor of Solo for the 2021–2024 term.
Read also: Reasons for relocation: Why Indonesia is moving its capital from Jakarta to Nusantara
Before the tip of Solo’s mayoral term, Gibran was nominated by the Golkar Party as a vice presidential candidate alongside Prabowo Subianto within the 2024 presidential elections.
Despite some age-related controversies, Gibran was not yet 40 years old, but he qualified to run as a consequence of his experience as a regional leader, which resulted from the Constitutional Court’s judgment no. 90/PUU-XXI/2023. On October 25, 2024, Prabowo and Gibran officially registered with the General Electoral Commission as candidates for president and vp, supported by Golkar and several other other party coalitions.
