Indonesia's 'Internet governor' in the spotlight

Social media may have fuelled his rise, but it also amplified every misstep

- Arlina Arshad

Affectionately known as Kang Emil, the 54-year-old crafted a persona that blurred the line between politician and celebrity.

He rose from mayor of Bandung, a post he held from 2013 to 2018, to lead West Java, the country’s most populous province, from 2018 to 2023.

The star politician even ran in the 2024 Jakarta gubernatorial election, a high-profile race that underscored his national prominence.

Today, his polished image lies in ruins.

That carefully curated image began to unravel on Jan 7, 2026, when his 29-year marriage to Ms Atalia Praratya, a 52-year-old fellow Golkar party politician central to his public persona, was officially dissolved.

The divorce came after Mr Ridwan found himself embroiled in scandals, both personal and legal, that hit his credibility and popularity over the past year.

The fallout has been swift and bruising. Mr Ridwan has not suffered a dramatic drop in Instagram followers, but observers say the more telling damage lies in waning engagement and a harsher tone online as scrutiny of his personal life and legal troubles intensified.

More significantly, he is now without an elected office or senior government role after losing the Jakarta gubernatorial race, a sharp reversal for a politician once regarded as one of Indonesia’s most promising leaders.

The string of setbacks is a serious blow rather than a career-ending fall, as Indonesian politics still allows room for reinvention — but this is only if Mr Ridwan can rebuild credibility and secure backing from powerful party figures.

Analysts say Mr Ridwan’s fall underscores the dangers of hyper-visibility. Social media fuelled his rise, but also amplified every misstep.