Indonesian voters are highly likely to be casting their ballots in a three-horse presidential race come 2024, following the surprise nomination of Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), quashing hopes for a quick election with the establishment of a “grand coalition” of pro-government parties.

Party leaders had earlier floated the idea of building a major alliance of parties supporting President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo as a unified front to take on former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan, who is backed by the NasDem Party and opposition parties, in hopes that next year’s election would conclude in a single round.

Now that Ganjar is on the PDI-P’s ticket, chances are high that the presidential race will need a second round, given that none of the potential contenders – Ganjar, Anies or Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto – are likely to garner more than 50 percent of the vote that is legally required to win.

The prospect for the establishment of a grand alliance has grown dim, now that pro-government parties must choose between two strong candidates: Ganjar and Prabowo.

‘Ganjar effect’

Ganjar’s nomination is expected to put other parties in the ruling government coalition in a quandary over which candidate to support. The PDI-P, the largest pro-government party, is now seeking electoral allies to support Ganjar.

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