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n analyst has stated that former Indonesian Military (TNI) generals are to be strong contenders in the 2014 presidential race.

Yunarto Wijaya of the Charta Politika think tank said that military individuals such as Army chief of staff Gen. Pramono Edhie Wibowo, former commander of Special Forces Command (Kopassus) Lt. Gen. (ret) Prabowo Subianto and former TNI chief Gen. (ret) Wiranto would attract a significant number of votes.

“They will have a strong presence. Do not forget that Indonesia was under a military regime for 32 years and we have also been led by a general for the past 10 years, SBY,” Yunarto said, referring to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

A number of former generals are expected to join the 2014 race, including Wiranto, chairman of the People’s Conscience Party (Hanura). Other military generals expected to join the presidential race include Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Djoko Suyanto and former TNI chief Gen. (ret) Endriartono Sutarto. Endriartono is reported to be joining the National Democratic Party (NasDem).

Prabowo is expected to be the most popular candidate but his presidential ambitions have been met with resistance by rival political parties that consider him too “dangerous”.