Millennials’ Waves of Influence

Millennials have become increasingly influential in Indonesia in the past few years. They not only speak for their generation but are also leading the way in changing the world.

KOMPAS/WAWAN H PRABOWO

President Joko Widodo (fourth left) introduces seven new special staff members from the millennial generation on the veranda of Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Thursday (21/11/2019). They are (from left) Andi Taufan Garuda, Ayu Kartika Dewi, Adamas Belva Syah Devara, Gracia Billy Yosaphat Membrasar, Putri Indahsari Tanjung, Angkie Yudistia and Aminuddin Ma\'ruf. On that occasion the President also said he would keep the old special staff members.

The rising influence of millennials, namely the generation born between 1980 and 2000, was palpable throughout 2019.

In politics, the power of millennial voters in the 2019 presidential and legislative elections was decisive as they accounted for about half of the total number of voters. More than that, there was a significant number of millennial legislative candidates. In the 2019 House of Representatives elections alone, millennials accounted for 1,543 out of 7,968 candidates. This was not much different than the number of millennial candidates for the House in 2014, which was about 1,600.