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‘Jokowi effect’ looms large over Prabowo election victory
Prabowo reinvented himself and strengthened his political base in the election, but It was his alliance with former rival Jokowi that played a key role in his ability to clinch the presidency, analysts say.
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President Joko “Jokowi“ Widodo shows his ballot paper for the 2024 presidential election at a polling station in Central Jakarta on Feb. 14, 2024. (Antara/Muhammad Adimaja)
Having failed twice before in his bid for the presidency, 72-year-old former Army Special Forces commander Prabowo Subianto looks certain to become the next leader of Indonesia, thanks in part to the role that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo played, analysts have said.
From offering up his portfolio of prior achievements as the basis for a campaign of continuity, to the support provided by Jokowi’s aides and volunteer networks and the resources and powers afforded by the state, the “Jokowi effect” looks to have given Prabowo a decisive victory.
Unofficial quick count results of the 2024 election by a number of normally reliable survey agencies have put the defense minister firmly ahead of his two younger rivals in the presidential race, former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan and former Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo.
Prabowo received 58 percent of the national vote, according to the three main quick count surveys. He also won at least 20 percent of the vote in half of the country’s 37 provinces, avoiding the need to contest a runoff vote.
Read also: Jokowi congratulates Prabowo, Gibran after early lead in polls
While both the Anies and Ganjar camps have yet to concede defeat until official election returns are announced next month and reports of election fraud are properly investigated, the proven track record of the quick counts in previous polls may prove enough to seal the win.
Prabowo declared victory for himself and running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the eldest son of Jokowi and incumbent mayor of Surakarta, in front of a stadium packed full of supporters in Jakarta just hours after the polls closed on Wednesday.
