13-11-2023 (JAKARTA) Prabowo Subianto, a presidential candidate in Indonesia, has surged ahead of his closest rival in a recent opinion poll, despite facing controversy over his choice of running mate, the son of outgoing leader Joko Widodo.
The survey, conducted from October 27 to November 1 by Indikator Politik Indonesia and released on Sunday, revealed that 39.7 percent of the 1,220 respondents would vote for Prabowo, a three-time presidential contender. Meanwhile, 30 percent expressed their support for Ganjar Pranowo from the ruling party.
Previous polls conducted by Indikator had shown a tight race between Prabowo, who is also the Defense Minister, and Ganjar, the former governor of Central Java. In the survey released on October 26, Prabowo garnered 36.1 percent, while Ganjar received 33.7 percent. Anies Baswedan, the former governor of Jakarta, remained a distant third in the polls.
Indonesia, with a population of over 270 million, will hold elections on February 14 to determine the successor of Jokowi, as President Widodo is commonly known, who has been in power for a decade. Approximately 205 million eligible voters will participate in the elections.
The recent surveys were conducted amidst headlines dominated by the entry of Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Widodo’s 36-year-old son, into the race. This move followed a Constitutional Court ruling that waived the minimum age requirement of 40 for all candidates. Some political analysts speculate that Gibran’s inclusion is a strategy to help Widodo maintain political influence while allowing Prabowo, a political heavyweight, to secure victory by tapping into the outgoing leader’s substantial support base.
Critics have accused Widodo of influencing the court ruling, particularly since his brother-in-law, a member of the court, was found guilty of ethics violations for not recusing himself from a ruling that favored his nephew. Widodo has chosen not to comment on the allegations of interference.
A survey published last week by pollster Charta Politika indicated a slim lead for Ganjar over Prabowo, as well as dissatisfaction regarding Widodo’s involvement in the presidential race and alleged interference in the court ruling.
Burhanuddin Muhtadi, the executive director of Indikator, described Gibran’s inclusion as a double-edged sword, capable of being both an asset and a liability. The latest poll results reflect a significant increase in support from younger voters and loyalists of Widodo, who have chosen to back Prabowo, likely influenced by Gibran’s presence on the ticket. Interestingly, the survey also revealed that respondents were not overly concerned about political dynasties.
