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Election debates might sway swing voters, analysts say
Recent surveys and analysts suggest that while the election debates might give some candidates a slight boost in electability, they might not sway enough swing voters to win next year's election.
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Presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo (center) greets Muhaimin Iskandar (second right), the running mate of presidential candidate Anies Baswedan (right), surrounded by (from left) his running mate Mahfud MD, presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto and Prabowo’s running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, before the inaugural presidential debate on Dec. 12 at the General Elections Commission (KPU) in Jakarta. (AFP/Yasuyoshi Chiba)
The election debates might offer the presidential and vice presidential candidates a chance to sway a sizeable share of undecided voters, analyst say, but the question remains whether they will actually have any significant impact.
Tens of millions of Indonesians watched on Tuesday evening as the three presidential candidates Anies Baswedan, Prabowo Subianto and Ganjar Pranowo went head-to-head in the inaugural debate, presenting their policy stances in a bid to woo voters for a shot at succeeding President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo next year.
Tuesday’s event was the first of five election debates organized by the General Elections Commission (KPU) pitting either presidential or vice presidential rivals ahead of the ballot, which is set for Feb. 14, 2024.
The debates might influence undecided voters as well as change the minds of others, said Ujang Komarudin, a political analyst from Jakarta’s Al-Azhar University.
“With a significant share of undecided voters, the debates could offer both Ganjar and Anies a chance to boost their standing” in the opinion surveys, Ujang told The Jakarta Post on Friday.
According to the latest surveys, the two candidates are locked in a tight battle for a spot in a runoff election, which many pollsters and observers deem highly likely for next year’s three-horse race.
A recent survey by Kompas Research and Development Department (Litbang), the research arm of the national daily, found that Ganjar and his running mate Mahfud MD was tailing with an electability of 15.3 percent, slightly behind Anies and his running mate Muhaimin Iskandar at 16.7 percent.
