Ganjar Pranowo (L), Prabowo Subianto (C), and Anies Baswedan strike a pose for the cameras after the first presidential debate 2024 concluded in Jakarta on December 12, 2023. (Photo: ANTARA)
The candidates are Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, formergovernor of Central Java province Ganjar Pranowo and former Jakarta Governor AniesBaswedan.
Prabowo, who is consideredthe most potential presidential candidate, said that if elected, he will striveto maintain positive relationships with all global powers in line withIndonesia’s "non-aligned" foreign policy and pursue a "goodneighbourliness policy". He also emphasised the importance of bolstering militarypower to defend the country's independence.
Meanwhile, Ganjar touched upon regional issuesand said that it is essential to increase the navy's patrol activities.
For hispart, Anies raised the issue of non-traditional threats such as a risein hacking incidents, thereby pledging to strengthening cyberdefence structure.He is also committed to making Indonesia a decisive leader in the globalsetting through its soft power such as the arts.
Prabowo is ahead of hisrivals in opinion polls since choosing Gibran Rakabuming Raka, theeldest son of President Joko Widodo, as his vice presidential candidate.
Pranowo is insecond place. Recent surveys suggest that Baswedan, in third place, might havea chance to beat Pranowo and be in the second-round runoff vote.
Indonesia will hold a generalelection on February 14, 2024. Nearly 205 million voters out of a total of morethan 270 million people are eligible to cast ballots to choose a successor to PresidentJoko Widodo. If none of the threecandidates obtains a majority of votes in the first round, a second round willbe held in June between the two candidates who receive the largest number ofvotes./.
