INDONESIA: POLITICS - Indonesian presidential candidates Prabowo Subianto and Joko Widodo start their election campaigns across the country

Record ID: 214710

  • Title: INDONESIA: POLITICS - Indonesian presidential candidates Prabowo Subianto and Joko Widodo start their election campaigns across the country
  • Date: 6th June 2014
  • Summary: BANDUNG, WEST JAVA PROVINCE, INDONESIA (JUNE 5, 2014) (REUTERS) CAR CARRYING PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE PRABOWO SUBIANTO ARRIVES AT HOTEL MEDIA AND SUPPORTERS SURROUNDING SUBIANTO AS HE GETS OUT OF CAR AND WALKS TO BUILDING SUBIANTO WALKING TO STAGE SUBIANTO STANDING AT PODIUM ON STAGE VARIOUS SUPPORTERS SURROUNDING SUBIANTO AS HE WALKS BANNER SHOWS PICTURE OF PRESIDENTIAL AN
  • Embargoed: 21st June 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Indonesia
  • Country: Indonesia
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA11DLILMMWO3JLHILTSY7432V
  • Story Text: Candidates in Indonesia's presidential elections start their campaigns across the country on Wednesday (June 4).
    On July 9, Indonesians will choose either Jokowi, the Jakarta governor, or ex-general Prabowo Subianto as president, to succeed Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who completes the allowed two, five-year terms in October.
    In Bandung, West Java Province on Thursday (June 5) former general Prabowo Subianto spoke to a crowd of supporters in a hotel and attended a library opening.
    Opinion polls show Jokowi is still ahead, but one recent survey indicated up to 40 percent of voters remain undecided.
    Jokowi's rise to become Jakarta governor and common touch made him an early favourite. But he faces a formidable challenge from Prabowo, who emerged as a serious contender after securing the backing of the country's second biggest party Golkar last month.
    Prabowo is seen as presenting a more nationalistic vision of the Indonesian economy. Indonesia's stock market and the rupiah fell on news that parties backing Prabowo won a slightly bigger share of votes in the April 9 parliamentary poll than pro-Jokowi parties.
    Jokowi's team says that as president, he would address the pressing issue of Indonesia's ballooning fuel subsidy bill, which currently leaves little budget money left for much-needed infrastructure projects.
    In the state capital Jayapura on Thursday, Jokowi visited a local market and cemetery.
    One of his supporters said Papuan residents hope Jokowi will win the presidential race.

    "Papuan people only hoping for Jokowi to become a President for Republic of Indonesia," Petrus Mebri told media.
    Jokowi stressed that he needed support across the country.

    "Only getting support in Java island is not enough, but this visit is not only about support but also attention. Coming here highlights how important Papua is in Indonesia," he said.
    Both Prabowo and Jokowi will travel widely in the next month to woo more than 186 million voters across the archipelago. Online campaigns are already under way and have been marked by mudslinging from both camps.
    The official campaign period will end July 5, when a quiet period will be enforced by the election commission before the July 9 voting.
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