close
close

Indonesians Join Last Campaign Before Presidential Election – Winnipeg Free Press

Posted on by Neons

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — The three candidates in Indonesia's presidential election campaigned in front of tens of thousands of people Saturday, four days before more than 200 million citizens go to the polls in the world's third-largest democracy.

Frontrunner Prabowo Subianto, a former special forces general, and his running mate, 36-year-old Surakarta Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka, held their last rally at Jakarta Stadium.

“On February 14, we will all determine the future of our children and grandchildren. … We are trying to bring prosperity to all Indonesian people. We will continue what the previous presidents built,” Subianto said.

Vice presidential candidate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto and Joko Widodo, eldest son of Indonesian President Joko Widodo, greet supporters during a campaign rally at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium in Jakarta, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Vice presidential candidate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto and Joko Widodo, eldest son of Indonesian President Joko Widodo, greet supporters during a campaign rally at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium in Jakarta, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Although he is the oldest candidate, Subianto's nomination is the youngest, but his selection has been controversial because he is the son of the current president. They are trying to support the youth through social media and video billboards with Pixar-style animated videos. They are meant to soften the image of the tough-talking former general, who has been accused of human rights abuses in the past, which he has denied.

The former governor of Jakarta, Anies Baswedan, together with his colleague Muhamin Iskandar, held the last event of his election campaign in another stadium of the capital.

“Our responsibility is to work together to end injustice, inequality and bring about change,” Baswedan told tens of thousands of residents and leaders of political parties supporting his race.

Meanwhile, in central Java province, thousands of people wearing black and white shirts rallied to support the ruling party's candidate. Former provincial governor Ganjar Pranowo held his last rallies in Surakarta and Semarang, an important region for his election campaign.

Speaking in Surakarta, Pranovo emphasized that he and his partner, Mohammed Mahfoud, listened to people they met during the campaigns, such as those who questioned the high price of rice.

“If there are shouts among the people, the leader is silent,” said Pranovo.