Anies Baswedan, who is campaigning on an opposition platform, has welcomed a statement from rival contender Ganjar Pranowo that calls for change at next month’s polls.

“We are grateful that more and more people are joining the stream for change,” Anies said on Friday during a visit in Central Tapanuli regency, North Sumatra, referring to Ganjar’s statement that “elections represent a hope for change”.

The presidential candidate of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) made the statement on Wednesday, at an event in Jakarta to celebrate the party’s 51st anniversary.

Anies added that he and his running mate Muhaimin Iskandar were happy that their campaign for change was being picked up by the rival Ganjar-Mahfud MD camp.

“From the beginning, we have held to the idea of change. Now, there are others calling for change. Alhamdulillah (Praise be to God),” he said.

At another campaign event in Lampung on Sunday, Anies expressed his optimism about winning the Feb. 14 election, as people were becoming more aware of the need for change.

He pointed to several reasons why the people were demanding change including a realization that the law had been bent, citing as an example the Constitutional Court’s decision last October to allow an exception to the rule on the age of candidacy.

People also realized that the law was often used as an instrument of power, Anies continued, highlighting the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and its record of poor case management.

He also promised to reduce the cost of living if he was elected president. (dre)

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