Campaigning kicks off in Indonesian presidential election
Indonesia saw the start of its presidential election campaign on Wednesday with a choice between two candidates, favourite Joko Widodo, Jakarta's governor, and ex-general Prabowo Subianto
Campaigning for Indonesia’s July presidential election officially began on Wednesday, with favourite Joko Widodo facing a tough challenge from a Suharto-era former general with a chequered human rights record.
Widodo, who won legions of fans during his time as Jakarta governor, started the campaign period with a ceremony at his Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle’s headquarters in the capital.
The party head handed him a cone of rice, a traditional gift in Indonesian culture to mark important events. He was due to set off in the evening to the eastern region of Papua, his first stop on a mammoth tour round the archipelago to win votes for the July 9 poll.
His only opponent, ex-general Prabowo Subianto, was heading to Bandung, in the west of the main island of Java, to begin campaigning later on Wednesday.
Voters face a stark choice between Widodo, seen as a fresh face in a country still dominated by figures from the three-decade Suharto dictatorship, and Prabowo, who has deep roots in the past.
Widodo has enjoyed a meteoric rise, from small town mayor on Java to Jakarta governor, and is now likely to be the next president of Indonesia.
“I will vote for Jokowi as he is humble and close to ordinary people.”