Andra Soni
Andra Soni | |
|---|---|
 2019 portrait | |
| Governor of Banten | |
| Assuming office 7 February 2025 | |
| Succeeding | Ucok Abdulrauf (act.) Wahidin Halim |
| Speaker of Banten DPRD | |
| In office 30 September 2019 – 27 August 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Asep Rakhmatullah |
| Succeeded by | Fahmi Hakim |
| Member of Banten DPRD | |
| In office 1 September 2014 – 27 August 2024 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 August 1976 Payakumbuh, West Sumatra, Indonesia |
| Political party | Gerindra |
Andra Soni (born 12 August 1976) is an Indonesian businessman and politician of the Gerindra party who is the governor-elect of Banten, taking office on 7 February 2025. He was previously a member of Banten's provincial legislature in 2014–2024 and its speaker in 2019–2024. He originated from West Sumatra, moving to Tangerang as a teen before eventually starting a logistics company.
Early life
[edit]Andra Soni was born to Zainal Abidin and Yasni on 12 August 1976 in Payakumbuh, West Sumatra.[1] Zainal was a farmer, but later moved to Pekanbaru to work in construction before illegally immigrating to Malaysia to work at palm oil plantations there. Soni completed his elementary school in Malaysia before returning to Indonesia to continue his education. He moved to Ciledug in Tangerang and lived with his brother, completing high school with financial support from his landlord (a son of Indonesia's first interior minister Wiranatakusumah V).[2]
Career
[edit]After completing high school, he began working as a courier at a company while continuing his studies. He eventually became a manager in the company before starting his own logistics company Antaran Sukses Express.[3][4]
According to Soni, he joined Gerindra in 2013 while accompanying a friend who was registering as a legislative candidate. He then took part in the 2014 Indonesian legislative election, and won a seat under Gerindra in the Banten Regional House of Representatives.[5] He was reelected in the 2019 election, and was elected speaker of the legislature.[3] He was reelected for a third term in 2024, but resigned before he was sworn in to run for governor of Banten.[6] Within Gerindra, he had been chairman of the party's Tangerang branch before chairing its provincial Banten branch in 2023 after the death of its previous chair Desmond Junaidi Mahesa.[7][8]
Governor
[edit]In 2024, Soni ran in Banten's gubernatorial election with Achmad Dimyati Natakusumah as his running mate. Among his campaign promises was an expansion of free education in the province, which would include non-public schools up to high school.[9] Soni and Natakusumah won the election, defeating former South Tangerang mayor Airin Rachmi Diany with 3,102,501 votes (55.9%).[10]
Personal life
[edit]Soni is married to Tinawati, and the couple has three children, all sons.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ "Anak Petani Payakumbuh, Andra Soni Jadi Gubernur Banten". SANCAnews.id (in Indonesian). 6 December 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ "Latar Belakang Keluarga Andra Soni: Anak Petani Sawit Kini Mau Jadi Gubernur". suara.com (in Indonesian). 23 July 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ a b "Profil Andra Soni: Keluarga, Agama, Bisnis, dan Kekayaan". Inilah.com (in Indonesian). 28 August 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ Santoso, Audrey (26 August 2024). "Profil Bacagub Banten: Andra Soni, Kurir yang Punya Mimpi Banten Adil Merata". detiknews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ Karman, Almubit (30 September 2024). "Andra Soni Ceritakan Proses Bergabung dengan Gerindra dalam Pencalonan Gubernur Banten 2024". ragam-indonesia.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ Rivaldo, Aris (16 August 2024). "Maju Sebagai Bacagub Banten, Andra Soni Mundur dari Caleg Terpilih". detiknews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ "Profil Andra Soni, Cagub Banten yang didukung 9 partai". Antara News (in Indonesian). 4 September 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ "Desmond Mahesa Wafat, Andra Soni Jadi Ketua DPD Gerindra Banten". CNN Indonesia (in Indonesian). 11 July 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ "Andra Soni: Program Sekolah Gratis untuk Kurangi Pernikahan Dini dan "Stunting" di Banten". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). 17 October 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ Rifa'i, Bahtiar (7 December 2024). "Sah! Andra Soni-Dimyati Natakusumah Menang Pilgub Banten 2024". detiknews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ "Tinawati, Istri Gubernur Banten Andra Soni Bicara Kisah Cintanya dengan Suami". Tribun Tangerang (in Indonesian). 23 January 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2025.