Run-off Looking Likely After February’s Presidential Vote

On February 14 Indonesia goes to the polls to elect a new President, Vice President, members of the House of Representatives and Senate as well as local legislative councils. The popular current President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is unable to stand as he has already served two terms. If a candidate doesn’t win 50% of the vote then there will be a run-off vote in June.

• The constitutional court waved the requirement for Widodo’s son Gibran to be over 40 to be a VP candidate as he had already been elected a regional leader and so was exempt from the age requirement. This has allowed Gibran to nominate as the running mate for presidential favourite Prabowo and implies that he is Widodo’s preferred candidate to replace him as president, although he hasn’t officially endorsed any candidate yet.
• Widodo’s party the PDI-P has officially endorsed Ganjar as the next president though. In the latest Indikator poll he had 34.8% support a close second to Prabowo’s 37%. The third candidate is independent Anies 22.3%. The deadline for nominations has passed and so February 14 will be a three-way competition.
• The election campaign will officially run from November 28 to February 10. President Widodo has warned regional heads to remain neutral in the lead up to the poll.