The much-anticipated election rematch between President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and his old rival, Prabowo Subianto, is finally on after both candidates registered themselves at the General Elections Commission (KPU) headquarters on Friday.

Jokowi and Prabowo had both officially announced their running mates, Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) chairman Ma’ruf Amin and outgoing Jakarta deputy governor Sandiaga Uno, respectively, less than 24 hours earlier.

Wearing a white shirt emblazoned with the words “Bersih, Merakyat dan Kerja Nyata” (Clean, Humble and Real Work), Jokowi stepped out of his car with Ma’ruf at the KPU at around 9:30 a.m. The pair, who were welcomed by loud cheers from supporters outside the KPU’s gates, were the first to register their ticket for next year’s election.

Standing among leaders of the nine political parties supporting his reelection, Jokowi expressed his hope the election process would run smoothly, saying that a democratic election was not a war, nor should it be filled with animosity.

“It is a competition of ideas, track records and achievements,” he said. “Don’t let political differences ignite conflict among neighbors and communities [...] because our biggest asset that must be maintained is the unity of the nation.”

A few hours later, it was Prabowo’s turn to register. The Gerindra chairman arrived clad in his party’s trademark white shirt, khaki pants and black peci (traditional cap), while Sandiaga, who recently resigned from Gerindra, wore a blue shirt, which he said symbolized “coolness.”

“We will accept and respect whatever the people decide, we only want to govern with the permission of the people. We want to serve so that there are no poor people in Indonesia, no hungry people in Indonesia, and no injustice in Indonesia,” Prabowo said in a speech after the registration.

Sandiaga doubled down on Prabowo’s economic message.

“In the next few months we will fight together with the people to bring about economic growth and renewal where we can create more jobs,” he said.

Prabowo later addressed his supporters outside the KPU, which included many members of the Confederation of Indonesian Workers Unions (KSPI), which has endorsed Prabowo’s candidacy since May.

Contenders: Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto is flanked by running mate Sandiaga Uno (right) and Democratic Party official Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono at the KPU in Jakarta on Friday. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)

“If you are poor, do not let your children be poor also. If your children are poor, it means that we have failed as a republic,” he said.

The pairs’ registrations followed a day after feverish lobbying and jockeying resulted in surprise last-minute vice-presidential picks for both Jokowi and Prabowo.

Jokowi’s decision to tap Ma’ruf has been regarded by many as an attempt to win the hearts of conservative Muslim voters, while Sandiaga was a “middle road” to appease all the parties in Prabowo’s fractious coalition.

Both camps sought to gloss over the seemingly contrary nature of their respective vice-presidential choices in rather imaginative ways.

Oesman Sapta Oedang, chairman of Jokowi coalition member the Hanura Party, answered questions about the 75-year-old Ma’ruf’s lack of appeal to younger voters by saying that the cleric could be considered a millennial.

“Millennial is not just about age. It is about actions and attitude,” he said on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Sohibul Iman, chairman of long-time Gerindra ally the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), called Catholic school-educated Sandiaga a “post-Islamist santri [Islamic boarding school student].”

“He lives a modern life but has gone through a process of spiritualization and Islamization,” Sohibul said.

Both sides also seemed to be forming their gameplans for the upcoming campaign, with Jokowi focusing on his achievements combined with Ma’ruf’s Muslim credentials and Prabowo targeting the weaknesses of the current administration’s economic policies.

“The government’s main problem right now is the economy, which is why Sandi [was chosen],” Pollster Indikator Politik Indonesia executive director Burhanuddin Muhtadi said. “Ma’ruf needs to be prepared for economic topics for the vice-presidential debate.”

The choice of Ma’ruf could also help to ease sectarian tensions given his high regard even among Jokowi’s harshest conservative critics.

“The contest is expected to be about the competition of vision, mission and ideas of each pair, rather than political identity,” political observer Ari Nurcahyo of think tank Para Syndicate said.

ISEAS — Yusof Ishak Institute fellow Eve Warburton, however, said that Jokowi’s choice amounted to pandering to his right-wing detractors and signaled his unwillingness to “defend a more secular and pluralist politics”.

“2019 probably won’t be as polarizing as 2014, but that’s not necessarily a good thing for Indonesian politics or its democracy,” she said.

Nevertheless, most observers believe that Jokowi’s advantage as an incumbent make him a strong favorite to win next year.

“Whereas in 2014 Prabowo commanded the far larger, wealthier coalition and the sponsorship of numerous government incumbents, those advantages now belong to Jokowi,” Thomas Power, an analyst from the Australian National University, said. “It will take an impressive effort if Prabowo-Sandi are even to run their rivals close.” (sau)