JAKARTA, Indonesia: Indonesians Cast Their Votes to Determine New President
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesians have exercised their right to vote on Wednesday to elect a new president as the country seeks to establish itself as a global economic powerhouse, twenty-five years after its liberation from a repressive dictatorship.
Voting Concludes in a Smooth and Efficient Manner
Voting concluded in the afternoon without any major issues observed throughout the vast archipelago. Unofficial results from certified quick-count outlets licensed by the General Election Commission are expected to be released within the day. Official final results will be available in approximately one month.
Candidates Competing for the Indonesian Presidency
Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, who has faced accusations of human rights abuses during his time as a special forces commander under the Suharto regime, emerged as the top contender in pre-election surveys. Joining him on the ballot were two former provincial governors, Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo, positioned as potential successors to the immensely popular President Joko Widodo, who is reaching the end of his second term in office. Widodo’s journey from a riverside slum to the presidency exemplifies the vibrancy of Indonesian democracy, contrasting against the backdrop of authoritarian regimes prevalent in the region.
Strong Economy and Infrastructure Developments Await the Future President
Whichever candidate succeeds Widodo will inherit an economy marked by impressive growth and ambitious infrastructure projects. Notably, the ongoing relocation of the nation’s administrative capital from the overcrowded city of Jakarta to the resource-rich island of Borneo is a massive feat that incurs a staggering cost of over $30 billion.
Significance of the Indonesian Election on Global Relations
To both the United States and China, the Indonesian election holds great importance due to Indonesia possessing a sizable domestic market, abundant natural resources like nickel and palm oil, and considerable diplomatic influence over its Southeast Asian neighbors.
Logistical Challenges and Significant Representation
Conducting a nationwide election across Indonesia’s 17,000 islands, inhabited by 270 million people, presented significant logistical challenges. Boats, motorcycles, horses, and even pedestrians were all deployed to transport ballot boxes and ballots to the voting locations, showcasing the country’s commitment to a fair and accessible voting process. In total, over 20,000 national, provincial, and district parliamentary positions were contested by tens of thousands of candidates, making this one of the largest elections in the world. Additionally, 18 political parties nominated around 10,000 aspirants for the national parliament’s 580 seats alone.
Hopes for a Better Future
Interviewed by The Associated Press, voters expressed their hopes for improved prosperity in a country where nearly one-tenth of the population still lives in poverty. Their desire for a better future was palpable, as shown by the sentiments of 17-year-old first-time voter, Indra Nurohim, who said, “I hope Indonesia can progress better and that I did not vote for the wrong person. I hope we will have a better government.”
Fierce Competition and Potential Repercussions
While the official vote tally will take approximately a month to be completed efficiently, preliminary results gathered through registered private polling and survey groups are considered reliable indicators of the final outcome. In the event that no candidate secures more than 50% of the votes, a runoff between the top candidates will be held on June 26.
Despite a previous electoral defeat to Widodo, 72-year-old Prabowo Subianto, the oldest candidate, enjoyed front-runner status in independent surveys. His choice of Widodo’s son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, as his vice-presidential running mate suggests an attempt to tap into the outgoing president’s popularity, potentially boosting his chances.
A Complex Political Landscape:
Baswedan, the former governor of Jakarta and head of an Islamic university, served as the education and culture minister from 2014 to 2016 in Widodo’s administration. He faced ongoing criticism from Widodo, resulting in his removal from the Cabinet due to his handling of the forest fire crisis, which impacted a large number of students.
Another candidate, Pranowo, is not supported by Widodo despite being a candidate from the ruling party. Pranowo previously served as a national legislator for the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle and as governor of the highly influential Indonesian province of Central Java. His decision to prohibit Israel’s participation in the Under-20 FIFA World Cup held in his province resulted in FIFA removing Indonesia as the host, causing discontent among Indonesian soccer fans and Widodo.
Achieving Greatness on the World Stage
Under President Widodo’s leadership, Indonesia witnessed a remarkable average annual growth of 5%, with the exception of last year’s contraction due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Bolstering his vision to transform Indonesia into one of the world’s top five economies with a projected GDP of up to $9 trillion by 2045, as part of the economic roadmap aptly named “Golden Indonesia 2045,” is a milestone aimed to commemorate a century of independence from Dutch rule.
Navigating through a challenging political landscape, the Indonesian people have chosen their new leader as they strive to bring prosperity, progress, and stability to their nation. Through a smooth voting process, Indonesia has demonstrated the strengths of its democracy on a global scale, awaiting the fruitful outcomes of this pivotal election.
Note: Associated Press journalist Jim Gomez in Jakarta, Indonesia contributed to this report.
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