JAKARTA, Indonesia: As Indonesia gears up for its highly anticipated presidential election, tens of thousands of enthusiastic supporters flooded the streets of Jakarta on Saturday for the final campaign rallies of the leading candidates.
The capital’s main stadium was brimming with nearly 100,000 attendees rallying in support of frontrunner Prabowo Subianto, while rival Anies Baswedan attracted over 80,000 supporters to another stadium in the bustling metropolis.
Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia’s Defense Minister and a former general, leads the polls by a significant margin over his competitors, Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo, as the nation anticipates casting their votes on Wednesday.
The fervor surrounding the rallies brought Jakarta to a standstill, with crowds of scooters and cars converging on the venues. Supporters voiced their aspirations for change, expressing confidence in their chosen candidates. One attendee, retired school teacher Endang Pujiati, emphasized Anies Baswedan’s trustworthiness and leadership qualities, citing them as reasons for attending the rally.
At Baswedan’s rally, the overwhelming turnout led to congested entrances, with reports of attendees fainting amidst the crowd. Meanwhile, Ganjar Pranowo held concurrent events in the cities of Semarang and Surakarta.
Subianto’s campaign spokesperson lauded the remarkable early turnout at the rally, surpassing expectations and filling most of the stadium hours before the event. The 72-year-old candidate has campaigned on promises to tackle extreme poverty, enhance education access, and continue the nation’s development initiatives initiated by incumbent Joko Widodo.
With over 204 million Indonesians set to cast their votes, the election holds immense significance for the nation’s political landscape. Voters will choose not only the next president but also parliamentary representatives and local officials on February 14, marking a pivotal moment in Indonesia’s democratic journey.
As the country braces for the election, stringent measures such as the use of halal ink aim to ensure the integrity of the voting process, guarding against fraudulent practices in the graft-prone nation.
