In just a few days, Indonesians will have the opportunity to elect their new president, marking the end of President Joko Widodo's second and final term. This election holds great importance for the world's third-largest democracy and the most populous Muslim-majority nation, with approximately 205 million people eligible to vote. The race is mainly between current Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and two former provincial governors, Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo.
Prabowo Subianto stands out as the only candidate with ties to the Suharto dictatorship, which spanned from 1967 to 1998. During this time, Subianto served as a lieutenant general and was involved in the Kopassus special forces. However, he was dishonorably discharged in 1998 due to the kidnapping and torture of political opponents of Suharto, his then-father-in-law. Although he never faced trial, several of his men were convicted. Subianto went into self-exile in Jordan but returned to Indonesia, founding the Gerindra Party in 2008. Despite losing to President Joko Widodo in two previous presidential elections, he now leads the race according to polls.
Running alongside Subianto is Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the 36-year-old son of President Widodo. Although Raka is below the statutory minimum age for a running mate, an exception was made by the Constitutional Court, which allowed current and former regional governors to run at age 35. Subianto has also utilized his close ties with hard-line Islamists to gain an advantage. Despite his economic development promises, Subianto's candidacy has raised concerns among human rights activists due to his association with torture and disappearances during the Suharto era.
Ganjar Pranowo is the candidate representing the governing party. However, he does not have the support of President Widodo, who has distanced himself from the party's campaign and is seen as implicitly backing Subianto and Raka. Pranowo served as a national legislator for the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle for ten years before becoming the Central Java governor for two terms. During his tenure as governor, he made a controversial decision to not allow Israel's participation in the Under-20 FIFA World Cup, leading to Indonesia losing its hosting rights and facing criticism from soccer fans. While not as enthusiastic about President Widodo's policies as Subianto, Pranowo aims to build on the current government's achievements.
Pranowo's running mate is Mohammad Mahfud, who resigned as security minister to focus on campaigning. Mahfud has previously held positions such as defense minister, justice minister, and chief justice of the Constitutional Court. Together, Pranowo and Mahfud seek to continue the positive aspects of the current administration while addressing areas that require improvement.
Anies Baswedan, the former governor of Jakarta, is another significant candidate in the presidential race. Before becoming governor, Baswedan served as the Minister of Education and Culture. He gained prominence by winning the gubernatorial election in 2017 against an ethnic Chinese Christian incumbent who was supported by President Widodo. Baswedan's victory was backed by conservative Muslim groups, mobilizing significant support through religious identity politics. In his bid for the presidency, he has chosen Muhaimin Iskandar as his running mate, aiming to rebuild support from moderate Muslims. Iskandar's Islam-based National Awakening Party holds strong ties with Indonesia's largest Islamic organization, Nahdlatul Ulama.
Baswedan has been vocal about opposing President Widodo's plan to move Indonesia's capital from Jakarta to Nusantara on the island of Borneo. This ambitious plan involves constructing government buildings and housing from scratch, and Baswedan believes it to be unnecessary. He has also expressed concerns about the declining state of democracy in Indonesia, citing Subianto's choice of President Widodo's son as his running mate as an example of a decline in trust and a bending of legal rules.
As Indonesia prepares to elect its new president, the race is heating up between these three candidates and their respective running mates. The outcome of the election will shape the future of the country and its path forward in various aspects, including human rights, economic development, and relations with international communities.
