Indonesia will decide between liberal-leaning incumbent president Joko Widodo and his rival, former general Prabowo Subianto in one of the world’s largest democratic elections.
By Stanley Widianto and Shibani Mahtani Shibani Mahtani Reporter covering Southeast Asia Email Bio Follow April 17 at 1:32 AM JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesians voted Wednesday in the world’s biggest direct presidential election, choosing between incumbent president Joko Widodo and former general Prabowo Subianto, who has played to nationalist, conservative forces and the poor as he once again makes a play for top office.
The peaceful and sometimes jubilant processes on Wednesday, with voters proudly holding up their pinky fingers marked with indelible and taking post-voting selfies outside polling stations, underscore the cementing of democracy and contested elections, two decades after the fall of military leader Suharto’s authoritarian regime.
Analysts say both candidates, however, have played to divisions in the country. Voters will be choosing between Widodo, who rose to the presidency from the political fringes on the back of religious minorities, young people and liberals, and his rival for the second time, Prabowo. A 48-year old voter who only wanted to be known as Lydia said she believed the divisive campaigns were only on the surface. Stationed in the polls here since 7 a.m., she like other voters sang Indonesia’s national anthem, “Indonesia Raya,” as voters cast their ballots.
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