Comment: Prabowo will run in 2014 presidential race

Jan 8, Online

The Great Indonesia Movement Party’s (Gerindra) chief patron, Prabowo Subianto, has stated his willingness to run for president in the 2014 presidential election.

“If the people support me, then I am ready to step forward as a presidential candidate,” he said on Sunday as quoted by tempo.co.

Your comments:

Plenty will be able to identify a plethora of black marks on Prabowo’s report card. But don’t underestimate him — he has the two essentials needed to be the next president: money and military backing. Leadership skills and clean record are not prerequisites.

If there is enough economic turmoil and social unrest before the election, someone like Prabowo will be able to present himself as a “white knight” who will ride in and save us all and, I fear, the gullible masses will flock to him. Stay tuned.

Oh, for a candidate with real leadership skills, a real vision for Indonesia and with no vested interests. Indonesia deserves such a leader. Keep looking.

Nairdah