JAKARTA (ANN/THE JAKARTA POST) – The General Elections Commission (KPU) is poised to kick off the registration process for presidential candidates in the upcoming 2024 general election. The victor will assume office following Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s two consecutive terms, which began with his first election in 2014.
Among the candidates, the current defence minister and two former governors are actively competing for the opportunity to succeed Jokowi.
With over 204 million eligible voters anticipated to participate, the nation will head to the polls on February 14, 2024, in a pivotal decision-making moment for its future leadership.
Voters will also cast their ballots for lawmakers on the same day.
Several prominent political names have emerged as strong presidential contenders.
Former general and current defence minister Prabowo Subianto has accepted the nomination from his political party, Gerindra.
It will be his third time running for president, after Prabowo lost to Jokowi in the last two elections.
Jokowi’s party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), has selected Ganjar Pranowo, the former governor of Central Java, as its presidential contender.
Ganjar is often compared to Jokowi as both did not come from an elite family and portray themselves as down-to-earth politicians.
A third candidate is former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan who secured his nomination with the backing of the National Democratic Party (Nasdem), and also has been endorsed by two other parties.
Anies, who is a former cabinet minister, is favoured by conservative Muslims and Islamist groups. While the official campaign period does not start until November 28, the presidential hopefuls have begun touring the country to seek voter support.
In the run-up to the election, the Constitutional Court issued a controversial ruling this week which allows candidates under 40 years old to be nominated for president or vice president if they have previously been elected to public office.
Critics say the decision was made to pave the way for Jokowi’s eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, to join the race at the age of 36, potentially as a running mate to Prabowo. Raka is the current mayor of Surakarta City.
Candidate registration is open till October 25, and the next president will be sworn in next October, the elections commission said.
