Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto continues to hold a significant advantage over his opponents as the country’s election on February 14 approaches, according to a recent opinion poll.
The survey by local pollster Indikator Politik, conducted from December 30 to January 6 with 1,200 respondents, revealed that Prabowo was the top choice of 45.8 percent of participants, as reported by Reuters. Former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan garnered support from 25.5 percent, while ruling party’s Ganjar Pranowo was preferred by 23 percent. An additional 5.8 percent remained undecided.
Prabowo’s lead remains virtually unchanged compared to the previous survey by Indikator Politik from November 23 to December 1, where he also had the backing of 45.8 percent of respondents. However, despite his substantial lead, Prabowo may still fall short of the necessary 50 percent of the vote to secure a first-round victory.
As a result, a run-off on June 26 could be a possibility, providing an opening for Anies, who has risen to second place in the recent surveys, fueled by strong performances in election debates.
Both Prabowo and Ganjar promise continuity with the current administration, while Anies positions himself as a candidate of change, campaigning against current policies in pursuit of returning civic life to its track.
Discontent over President Joko Widodo’s alleged attempts to retain influence when he leaves office has been a focal point of Anies’ campaign. This discontent has focused on the perceived use of political influence to facilitate Gibran’s entry into the presidential race, prompting concerns and comparisons with past authoritarian administrations.
A controversial Constitutional Court ruling in October made an exception to the minimum age requirement of 40 for vice presidential candidates, enabling Gibran, who was too young to run, to enter the race. The ruling led to suspicions of tailor-made decisions and implications of implicit endorsements.
Anies has criticized the current election campaign and expressed concerns about neutrality, foul play, and the concentration of development in one location, advocating for more inclusive growth and equitable development.
While the sincerity of Anies’ promises of change remains to be seen, his increasing popularity sets the stage for an interesting run-off in June if Prabowo fails to secure an outright victory next month.