12-11-2024 (JAKARTA) The battle for Jakarta’s governorship has intensified as the Indonesian capital prepares for a crucial local election on November 27, with two leading candidates emerging in a contest widely viewed as a potential stepping stone to national leadership.
Recent polling data from Kompas newspaper reveals a tight race between former West Java governor Ridwan Kamil, 53, and ex-minister Pramono Anung, 61, who garnered 38.3 and 34.6 percent support respectively. The third candidate, retired police general Dharma Pongrekun, 58, trails significantly with just 3.3 percent, whilst nearly a quarter of voters remain undecided.
The significance of the Jakarta governorship, previously held by President Joko Widodo, has not diminished despite the capital’s planned relocation to Nusantara. The metropolis of 8.3 million voters remains Indonesia’s economic powerhouse, making this election particularly consequential.
Ridwan Kamil, backed by a 13-party coalition including President Prabowo Subianto’s Gerindra party, brings extensive leadership experience as both West Java governor and Bandung mayor. His ambitious agenda includes transforming the Thousand Islands region into a special economic zone and revitalising Jakarta’s historic old town area.
Pramono Anung, supported by the opposition Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), enters the race with strong political credentials as a former Cabinet secretary. His platform focuses on tourism development and infrastructure projects, including a proposed US$3 billion investment fund and the revival of Jakarta’s sea wall project.
The election forms part of Indonesia’s first simultaneous local polls across 37 provinces and more than 500 regencies and cities. Voters will select governors, regents, and mayors for five-year terms, with only Yogyakarta exempt due to its traditional sultanate governance.
Both frontrunners have prioritised foreign investment and solutions to Jakarta’s persistent challenges of traffic congestion and flooding in their campaigns. The outcome of this election could significantly influence both the city’s development trajectory and Indonesia’s broader political landscape.
