Khofifah Parawansa (born May 19, 1965) is an Indonesian politician who has been serving as the governor of the province of East Java since 2019. She is the first female governor of East Java. Prior to this, Khofifah was a member of the Indonesian cabinet.
Early Life
Khofifah Parawansa was born on May 19, 1965, in the city of Surabaya, located in East Java. Surabaya is the second largest city in Indonesia after the city of Jakarta.
Political Career
Cabinet of Indonesia (2014 – 2018)
In 2014, Khofifah was appointed by President Joko Widodo as Indonesia’s Minister of Social Affairs. She served in the country’s cabinet until 2018, when she resigned to run for governor in East Java.
Governor of East Java (2019 – Present)
In the 2018 East Java election, the incumbent governor, Uncle Karwo, was term limited after serving two five-year terms. Prior to the election, Khofifah was nominated by the Indonesian Democratic Party. Ultimately, Khofifah won the election, becoming the first female governor of East Java. She was officially sworn in as governor on February 13, 2019.
On February 13, 2024, Khofifah went on leave as governor. Later that year, on November 27th, Khofifah was re-elected as governor of East Java. She began her second term on February 20, 2025, thus ending her one-year absence. Khofifah will be term limited in the 2029 election and will need to leave office in February of 2030.
Personal Life
Khofifah is married with a man named Dang Beta. They have three sons and a daughter. Khofifah adheres to Islam. Just like most Indonesians, Khofifah has no family name; both her first and last name are given names.