Indonesia elects president after a decade of Joko Widodo in power | International

Indonesia, the third largest democracy on the planet, elects a new president and vice president, as well as parliamentary and local government representatives this Wednesday. Almost 205 million people are called to the polls on what will be the most important voting day of this super election year (in India, the most populous country in the world, voting will take place between April and May). The largest economy in South-East Asia chooses between three proposals for continuity after a decade of leadership by Joko Widodo – nicknamed Jokowi-, who cannot stand for re-election after having exhausted the maximum of two terms. The favorite to succeed him, according to polls, is the current Defense Minister, Prabowo Subianto.

Presidential elections in the archipelago are traditionally a battle of personalities rather than political promises and, on this occasion, the young people’s vote will be decisive, given that 52% of the electorate is under 40 (the country has 270 million inhabitants). . For this reason, the race towards the Merdeka palace developed above all on social networks, where the three presidential candidates tried to win the favor of voters by showing their most affable face with live broadcasts and viral dances, instead of betting on rallies and rallies. other more traditional campaign strategies.

As for former general Prabowo, 72, who lost to Widodo in the 2014 and 2019 elections, serious charges of human rights violations are expected. Although no charges have ever been brought against him, his critics point out that Prabowo was involved in the late 1990s kidnapping and torture of around twenty pro-democracy protesters, of whom more than a dozen remain missing. . He is also credited with ordering some of the atrocities committed in East Timor and Papua during the Indonesian occupation, resulting in his dismissal from the army and exile in Jordan in 1998. The United States even banned him from entering in the country for these actions. documents., but he eliminated the veto in 2020, after taking over the Defense portfolio.

Known for his fervent nationalism and his strong temperament, Prabowo has shown his more affable and charismatic side through social networks and has distanced himself from the flirtation with the more radical Islamic factions that cost him his victory in 2019. His nine millions of followers on Pictures from his private life and photos of his cats are seen daily on Instagram, and many young people have become fond of his awkward movements in his viral dances on TikTok, with which he has captured the attention of a demographic group key. According to the report, almost 80% of the Indonesian population has access to the Internet and people between the ages of 16 and 64 spend more than three hours a day on social networks. Digital 2023 of the British company We Are Social. According to data from the Center for International and Strategic Studies (CSIS), social networks are the first source of information for 60% of Indonesian voters.

Prabowo goes to the polls with Gibran Rakabuming Raka, President Widodo’s eldest son, as vice presidential candidate. His candidacy was not without controversy, as Gibran, 36, was disqualified because he did not meet the requirement of being at least 40 years old to compete for the government’s two highest positions. However, the Constitutional Court, chaired by Widodo’s brother-in-law, ruled in October that younger candidates could run if they had previously held public office. This is the case of Gibran, current mayor of Surakarta.

Erosion of democratic values

These political movements have sparked criticism and concerns about a possible erosion of democratic values ​​in Indonesia, a country that freed itself from the yoke of an authoritarian regime only 25 years ago. In 2014, Widodo became the first Indonesian leader away from the elites thanks to his charisma and moderate spirit. The analysts of think tank The American Carnegie Endowment for International Peace believes it is possible that the current president will try to maintain his influence even after leaving office.

The opponents of the current Defense Minister are Anies Baswedan, 54, and Ganjar Pranowo, 55. The first is an academic and former governor of Jakarta who represents the option furthest from the current president. In 2017 he was accused of courting radical Islamic groups that were fueling identity politics in the country with the largest Muslim population in the world. He is now running alongside Muhaimin Iskandar, leader of Indonesia’s main Islamic party.

Ganjar, for his part, should have been the favorite candidate to succeed Widodo, with whom he shares a party. But the former Central Java governor’s political influence crumbled after the president began a tacit campaign in favor of Prabowo. Without this support, this politician of humble origins tried to show a popular attitude and promised measures aimed at the most disadvantaged sectors.

To win the elections, a simple majority and at least 20% of the votes are needed in more than half of the country’s provinces, spread across 17,000 islands. If there is no clear winner, a run-off between the two most voted candidates will take place in June. Last week’s polls conducted by Indikator Politik and Lembaga Survei Indonesia predicted Prabowo would win with more than 51% of the vote.

Unemployment and improving the quality of life are among the main concerns of voters of the younger generations, who represent more than half of the electorate. Although the official unemployment rate stands at 5.32%, experts point out that this figure does not accurately reflect reality, as many employees officially work only a few hours a week and around 60% work in the informal sector. Furthermore, youth unemployment has increased in recent years: in 2023, young people between 15 and 24 years old accounted for 55% of the 7.86 million unemployed, an increase of 10% compared to 2020.

During Widodo’s decade of leadership, the country experienced stable economic growth and low inflation, as well as significant investment in industries linked to its abundant natural resources. For example, billions of dollars have been invested in nickel smelting, attracting battery and electric vehicle makers such as China’s CATL and South Korea’s LG and Hyundai. However, according to some economists, in recent years investments have been directed more towards machinery and technology than towards job creation. The next Administration, which will govern until 2029, will have the responsibility to address this challenge and seek answers to the growing use of automation and artificial intelligence, an issue that neither candidate addressed in detail during the campaign.

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