WHO ARE THE CANDIDATES SEEKING TO BECOME INDONESIA’S NEXT PRESIDENT?
▶ Campaigns started as world’s most populous Muslim-majority country goes to polls in February
Indonesians are facing a crucial election year in which they will elect a new president. Campaigns have begun ahead of the February 14 poll. More than 200 million people are eligible to vote in the world’s third-largest democracy, which has a population of nearly 280 million.
The country has held elections every five years since its 1998 transition to democracy.
Current President Joko Widodo has been in power since 2014, winning a second term in 2019. In both polls, he defeated challenger Prabowo Subianto – who is running again this year.
Mr Widodo – widely known as Jokowi – is a popular figure and the first leader to come from outside the country’s elite.
Under Indonesia’s constitution, Mr Widodo is barred from seeking a third term.
Here is everything you need to know about the candidates competing to succeed him.
Prabowo Subianto
The former special forces commander is making a third run at the presidency.
Mr Subianto, 72, comes from an elite family and commands a huge following, despite allegations of human rights violations over the kidnapping of democracy activists during turmoil in the late 1990s and alleged abuses in East Timor. He has denied wrongdoing.
Mr Subianto is also a former son-in-law of late leader president Suharto.
In previous elections, he forged alliances with conservative Islamic groups and political parties criticised for stoking communal tensions.
After Mr Subianto lost the 2019 election, Mr Widodo made him Defence Minister
– a move analysts say helped heal divisions. Mr Widodo has tacitly backed Mr Subianto.
Mr Subianto chairs the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) party.
Running mate: Gibran Rakabuming Raka
Mr Raka is Mr Widodo’s son, who has served as Surakarta mayor since 2020 – a position held by his father. In October, Mr Subianto named Mr Raka, 36, as running mate, after the Constitutional Court ruled a
minimum age requirement of 40 for candidates need not always apply.
Ganjar Pranowo
The ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle has pinned its hopes on Ganjar Pranowo, 55, a former governor of Central Java. He had been a close second behind Mr Subianto in opinion polls.
The former representative has gained huge support among Indonesians as a leader from outside of the
elite. Mr Pranowo, who initially appeared to be backed by Mr Widodo, hopes his popularity on social media and with young voters will boost his chances.
He had topped many polls this year until he backed a call to stop Israel taking part in the under-20 football World Cup, for which Indonesia was dropped as host.
Running mate: Mahfud MD
Indonesia’s widely respected Co-ordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security
Affairs brings integrity to Mr Pranowo’s ticket and the possibility of crucial votes from the influential Nahdlatul Ulama Islamic organisation.
Mahfud MD, 66, whose proper name is Mohammad Mahfud Mahmodin, is a former Constitutional Court judge who has taken a stand against corruption and criticised attempts to extend presidential terms.
Anies Baswedan
Popular from 2017 to 2022 as governor of Jakarta – a position once held by Mr Widodo – academic and politician Anies Baswedan had trailed rivals but a December poll showed him overtaking Mr Pranowo.
Mr Baswedan, 54, was praised for his Covid-19 response but criticised for handling of flooding in the capital.
He is not a member of a political party but is backed by three, including a secular party in the ruling coalition and the conservative Islamic Prosperous Justice Party.
His rise in 2017 was controversial as he accepted the endorsement of hardline Islamist groups that had agitated against his opponent and then-Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama – an ethnic Chinese Christian – who was later jailed for insulting Islam.
Mr Baswedan, who espouses a moderate interpretation of Islam, was accused of doing little to mend communal rifts.
Running mate: Muhaimin Iskandar
Better known as Cak Imin, the 57-year-old is head of the National Awakening Party. He has served as deputy speaker of the People’s Representative Council since 2019 and was labour minister from 2009 until 2014. He is relative of the late Abdurrahman Wahid – or Gus Dur – a president and religious leader. Mr Iskandar has strong networks within the Nahdlatul Ulama and is expected to draw votes from his base in East Java.
Under Indonesia’s constitution, popular President Joko Widodo is barred from standing for a third term