JAKARTA
Indonesia is preparing for the election season for its presidential race, with nearly 205 million people expected to choose who will lead the country’s resource-rich economy and drive a shift away from fossil fuel reliance.
The race is expected to be dominated by three men: Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, 72, and former governors Ganjar Pranowo and Anies Baswedan, both 54. Both candidates have signalled their plans to register and present their policy platforms at the election commission.
Opinion polls show Ganjar is in a close race with Prabowo, who is making a third run at the presidency after losing to Jokowi in 2014 and 2019. Anies is a distant third.
Indonesian presidential candidates will announce their running mates for the upcoming election, ending months of speculation and political manoeuvring.
Ganjar, the presidential pick for the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDI-P), will be joined by Mahfud MD, while Anies will run with Muhaimin Iskandar, the leader of the largest Islamic party.
Former special forces commander Prabowo has yet to announce his vice presidential running mate, with speculation he will be joined by Jokowi’s 36-year-old son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
Gibran’s potential run is controversial due to a ruling by the Constitutional Court that a minimum age of 40 should not apply to all candidates. Jokowi has denied involvement in presidential candidates, but political insiders claim he is seeking to retain influence and support Prabowo.
