What’s at stake in Indonesia’s elections?

JAKARTA, Indonesia – Indonesian voters go through the last stages of a highly divisive presidential campaign with two prominent political figures in a close fight – Prabowo Subianto and Joko Widodo.

What is at stake for the world’s largest Muslim population and Southeast Asia’s biggest economy?

Ayee Macaraig files this video blog.

A former general from the traditional elite and a new generation grassroots leader.

It’s old versus new in Indonesia’s July 9 presidential election, only the third time this Southeast Asia nation directly chooses its leader since the fall of dictator Suharto in 1998.

It’s one of the closest races in the country’s history and one of the most important events in the region.

What exactly is at stake?

This election is seen as a test for Indonesia’s democracy, the 3rd largest in the world after India and the United States.

187 million Indonesian voters face a stark choice between Jakarta governor Joko Widodo or Jokowi, and former special forces commander Prabowo Subianto.

Called the Indonesian Obama, Jokowi is a popular grassroots leader who rose from being a furniture salesman.

He fought red tape and instituted reforms as mayor of the Central Java city of Solo.

Supporters see him as the man who will fight corruption, deeply entrenched in Indonesia, but critics hit his inexperience.

Prabowo bills himself as a strongman that Indonesia’s young and diverse democracy needs.

But he has a dark record of human right abuses for kidnapping student-activists in the unrest that led to Suharto’s downfall.

While Jokowi was the early favorite in this race, Prabowo’s well-oiled campaign cut his lead to 3 to 7 points with less than a week to go before the polls.

How exactly do Indonesians view the two?

Previously, I supported Jokowi but then after Prabowo emerged, now I choose Prabowo because he is firm. Hopefully, he can do something about corruption, eradicate it.

Prabowo is a strong leader. If we have a weak leader, he might be attacked from behind by another country.

I am traumatized. In 1965, I was arrested by the military. Even though [Prabowo] is a former military general, I am still traumatized. In 1966, I was a member of a leftist youth movement.

Jokowi is a man of the people. He visits his people. He deserves to lead the people. That’s why the people have to vote for Jokowi because Jokowi is honest and wise. 

Whoever wins, the result of this election will shape the direction of the world’s largest Muslim nation in the next 5 years.

With Indonesia being Southeast Asia’s leader, mediator and biggest economy, the man who leads this nation will also influence this region’s future.

Ayee Macaraig, Rappler, Indonesia.

For all news related to the Indonesian elections visit rappler.com/indonesia. 

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– Rappler.com