Indonesia: Prabowo Enters Three-Way Presidential Race

Facts

• Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto has officially entered the country’s presidential race, making next year’s election a three-way contest.¹
• The 72-year-old and his running mate, incumbent Joko Widodo’s 36-year-old son Gibran Rakabuming Raka, handed their credentials and manifesto to election officials in Jakarta on Wednesday.²
• Prabowo is contesting the presidency for the third time after he lost the last two elections to Widodo, who is restricted from running again because of term limits.³
• Gibran, who doesn’t meet the minimum age requirement for vice presidential candidates of 40, is allowed to contest as he currently serves as the Mayor of Surakarta.⁴
• The other two contenders for the February 2024 presidential election are Former governor of Central Java Ganjar Pranowo and former governor of Jakarta Anies Baswedan.⁵
• According to the latest opinion polls, Prabowo leads with 36% approval, followed by Ganjar and Anies at 31% and 20%, respectively.⁵

Sources: ¹Al Jazeera, ²Reuters, ³France 24, ⁴Associated Press and ⁵Time.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Nasdaq. Indonesians of all stripes are energized and excited to back Prabowo and Gibran as they run for president, and young people, in particular, could fuel their victory. Despite the cries from the critics, Prabowo has withstood public scrutiny for decades while Gibran has shown his political chops as a mayor. Prabowo is leading in the polls, and the momentum behind his support is only just beginning.
• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Tempo. The Prabowo-Gibran ticket is already off to a shameful start after the Constitutional Court — headed by the Widodo’s brother-in-law — altered the candidate age requirement to benefit the president’s son. Clearly, family members entrenched in Indonesian politics are ignoring laws and norms to create a political dynasty for Widodo, thereby weakening the country’s fragile democracy.