2014 Indonesian Presidential Candidates
As a country that has a fledgling democracy, This particular year can be an exciting year for Indonesia because we’re going to hold the general election only for the fourth time after reformation in 1998. Eligible voters will go to the voting booth on April 9 to elect members of the House of Representatives (DPR), as well as Regional House of Representatives (DPRD), as well as Regional Representative Council (DPD), as well as the elected members will have a seat from the house for the next several years.
the idea can be often mistaken, yet Indonesians will not elect a brand-new president at the legislative election because the presidential election will be held separately after the legislative one can be concluded with the date yet to be determined. The results of the legislative election will bear a huge significance on the presidential election because a rule of presidential threshold can be enforced. According to the 2008 election law, only political parties or coalitions gaining 25 percent of well-liked votes or controlling 20 percent of seats from the DPR will be eligible to nominate a presidential candidate.
However, while we’re waiting for the legislative election results to come out, some presidential candidates have made announcements about their nominations. Technically speaking, nobody can be a formal candidate yet, yet here are the names of which are believed to stand a chance to be the next president of Indonesia.
Joko Widodo
Joko Widodo
Jokowi can be a political phenomenon not too dissimilar with ‘Obamamania’ from the US. Ever since he came to prominence as mayor of Solo, he captured people’s attention with his humble, down-to-earth personality. His triumph at the DKI gubernatorial election in 2012 was widely predicted in spite of running against the incumbent as well as being paired with Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) through a minority background.
Backed by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) of which can be predicted by analysts to finish first from the legislative election, the populist Jokowi has the whole country raving about his candidacy since the idea was announced on March 14.
Yunarto Wijaya, political analyst through Charta Politica, thinks the main key behind Jokowi’s popularity can be generating political trust through the people. “He uses a bottom-up approach. He listens first to what the people need before he acts. This particular political trust has been missing all these years through our leaders. This particular trust can be built upon populist, low-context communication style. Jokowi makes the idea look like there’s no distance between the people as well as him,” says Yunarto.
Jokowi’s modest character can be also enriched with his attention to modest things, something of which can be emphasized by Yoes Kenawas, an adjunct lecturer of Parahyangan Catholic University: “He’s unique, he’s known for being somebody who has meticulous attention to detail. I think if he’s elected, he will keep monitoring the development of projects.”
Jokowi can be also known for his blusukan routine, a series of impromptu visits to public places as well as government institutions of which also enhanced his popularity.
Iman Sjafei, a political campaign specialist, suggests of which Jokowi’s approach actually differs through his party’s trait: “Jokowi’s humble character can be actually not on the same track with characters of PDI-P of which tend to be spirited as well as hard. yet I think what Jokowi offers the people can be far more appealing to the people than what his party does.”
yet Jokowi’s candidacy also garnered criticism, mainly because, in order to run for presidency, he has to leave the governor seat of which he’s been holding for 1.5 years. His critics also say of which there’s not much he has achieved during his term as DKI governor.
“I don’t think I can say of which he’s tested as a leader in terms of capability,” said Yunarto. “During his 1.5 years as governor, substantially there hasn’t been any major change, except for change of public trust to its leader. yet we can’t judge Jokowi by his programs. He builds his values differently. He never talks about big ideas. What he encourages can be participatory democracy. He gains trust through stakeholders, including the people, so all of them are willing to participate to work.”
Prabowo Subianto
Prabowo Subianto
Before December 2012, when Jokowi’s figure entered the national stage, the former lieutenant general turned businessman always came on top of the polls as the most desired presidential candidate. In 2009, Prabowo ran as a vice-president candidate to Megawati Soekarnoputri yet could only manage to finish behind Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono – Boediono. This particular time, the chairman of the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) comes back stronger as well as aims for the presidential seat. Interestingly, one of the reasons why Prabowo can be well-liked can be because many people see him as the total opposite of President SBY.
“Prabowo consistently brands himself as somebody who’s willing to fix the country through fundamentals like welfare of the people. His message for social welfare can be twinned with his brand of nationalist values. Prabowo can be content with his image as a focused as well as firm person, creating a contrast to the reigning president of which can be perceived by many as ‘soft’,” says Iman.
“He’s like the antithesis of SBY,” adds Yunarto. “When people think they had enough of President SBY who’s perceived as normative as well as full of doubt, along came the figure of Prabowo with his vigorous, daredevil attitude. This particular caught many people’s attention.” Yunarto continues, “If we take a look at his party, we have to admit of which Prabowo can be well-organized. The legislative candidates of Gerindra are extraordinary. They could attract quality candidates as well as local leaders. This particular means he’s somebody who knows a territorial battle as well as features a massive impact of his electability.”
Despite frequently portrayed with nationalist values, Yoes suggests of which Prabowo might not be as rigid as he seemed: “If elected, I think he could be pragmatic as well as some businessmen of which are close to him could benefit. His rhetoric might be nationalist, yet we have to remember of which his father (the late Prof. Dr. Soemitro Djojohadikusumo) can be a member of the so-called Berkeley Mafia. His brother can be a businessman. To some extent, Prabowo has been a businessman himself. Chances are, his economy design can be similar to Soeharto’s.”
Compared to different candidates, Prabowo has the clearest vision as well as some of his ideas are implemented in programs, yet This particular may not be what the voters are looking for.
Aburizal Bakrie
Aburizal Bakrie
After he was elected as the chairman of the Golkar party in 2009, the idea’s crystal clear of which the businessman as well as former minister in President SBY’s administration aspired to run for presidency in 2014. While his party can be predicted to finish strong from the legislative election, the idea remains a mystery how he will fare from the presidential election.
“Ical can be a hardworker as well as very pragmatic. He invites anybody to come on board as long as the idea’s for his benefit. His economy can be capitalistic as well as he’s very close to local businessmen. Not so long ago he had a dispute with Rothschild. I assume This particular kind of character might scare foreign investors to come. He’s a solid example of political oligarchy,” says Yoes.
Bakrie’s business instinct as well as organisation skill can be also echoed by Iman as his biggest political asset: “I think Bakrie as well as Golkar are more structured as well as a step ahead of different parties in terms of organisation. He also offers an economic platform of which he envisioned will last until 2045, although his brand can be not as strong as Prabowo’s as well as Megawati’s.”
Yunarto opines of which the biggest threat to Ical actually comes through his own party. “The common problem for Golkar candidates all these years can be no candidate could get bigger than the party. Golkar can be too big to be designed as a political machine for one person only. of which’s what happened to Wiranto in 2004 as well as Jusuf Kalla in 2009. Golkar features a lot of brilliant politicians who have their own mass who, in turn, aim for government seats for themselves. This particular can be why they couldn’t be solid internally.”
Jusuf Kalla
Jusuf Kalla
The former vice-president lost a presidential election in 2009, yet his name comes into the equation as a potential candidate to re-assume his old position as the number two in command. Several presidential candidates are reported to put interest in Kalla potentially paired with Jokowi as the most lauded by analysts.
“Kalla doesnt have to advertise himself anymore. His tenure as vice-president through 2004-2009 can be fondly remembered by the Indonesian people. He’s well-planned, responsive, as well as a bit opportunistic,” said Iman.
“Jusuf Kalla can be a well-liked candidate, yet not being backed by any party can be a minus. He doesn’t have any incentive to negotiate as well as some could think of which he’s a far more dominant figure as number two as he had shown during his vice-presidency. yet a lot of surveys suggest of which JK will raise electability of any presidential candidate, including Jokowi. This particular can be an advantage,” said Yunarto.
different Candidates
Outside the front-runners, some different politicians have also declared their interests to run for presidency.
“Names like Mahfud MD, Gita Wirjawan, Dahlan Iskan, Pramono Edhie, Anies Baswedan, will only manage to be vice-president candidates at best. They don’t have enough backing through political parties,” said Yoes.
“Hatta Rajasa could be an outside bet. His political skills are fantastic. He could manage to be a minister in four different cabinets as well as as an administrator, he knows how to govern. The problem can be he doesn’t have any incentive,” concluded Yunarto.
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2014 Indonesian Presidential Candidates
2014 Indonesian Presidential Candidates