After completing his studies,Respati took on an internship at a notary's firm in Bekasi,and joined a law office. [1] He then became an entrepreneur,co-founding a used cooking oil exporting company and working in real estate development. Respati also became chairman of Surakarta's branch of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs' Association [ id ]. [2]
Politics
By August 2024,with Surakarta's mayoral election approaching,a coalition of political parties led by Gerindra had announced their support for Mangkunegara X. However,when Mangkunegara X abruptly withdrew his candidacy,the parties instead endorsed Respati. Respati was previously not considered a potential candidate,and his name emerged from discussions between Mangkunegara X and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka (formerly mayor of Surakarta). [3] Respati had previously publicly defended Gibran during the leadup to the 2024 Indonesian presidential election,when Gibran's young age became an issue in his candidacy. [4]
Respati's candidacy,announced just hours after Mangkunegara X's withdrawal and one day before the official registration deadline, [5] was endorsed by former President (and also former mayor of Surakarta) Joko Widodo, [6] and was endorsed by eleven political parties. [7] In the election,Respati and his running mate Astrid Widayani defeated incumbent PDI-P mayor Teguh Prakosa after winning 185,970 votes (60.49%). [8] He was sworn in as the city's 20th mayor on 20 February 2025, [9] ending PDI-P's hold on the city's mayoralship since 2000. [10]
As mayor,Respati sent 60 psychiatrists to Solo's public health clinics to provide supplementary mental health services. [11] Responding to unemployment within the city and the #KaburAjaDulu social media trend in 2025,he announced training programs aimed at preparing unemployed Surakarta residents to find work abroad. [12] Following damage to property caused by protests in August 2025,Respati announced incentive payouts to merchants and motorcycle taxi drivers normally operating in affected areas. [13]
He is a member of the Gerindra party,serving as treasurer of the party's Surakarta branch as of April 2025. [14]
