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2020 regional elections: Which battlegrounds are being tightly contested this year?
Political experts predict tight races in a number of regions in the upcoming 2020 simultaneous elections.
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Banyuwangi Regent Abdullah Azwar Anas receives an award from President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo for his success in developing the agricultural sector in May 2017. (Courtesy of Pemkab Banyuwangi)
I
n two weeks’ time, Indonesia will host its first-ever simultaneous regional elections during a pandemic, setting up a precarious battleground for hopeful candidates in a contest like no other in the nation’s history.
The Dec. 9 elections will see some politically wired figures competing, including President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s eldest son Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is aiming to secure the mayorship in Surakarta, Central Java.
Meanwhile, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto’s niece, Rahayu Saraswati Djojohadikusumo, and Vice President Ma’ruf Amin’s daughter, Siti Nur Azizah, will compete in the South Tangerang mayoral race in Banten. Rahayu will run for deputy mayor, while Siti leads a separate election ticket as a mayoral candidate.
There is bound to be a lot of coverage on such high-profile candidates, but political analysts are also pointing to races in other regions that promise a competitive showdown between incumbents and members of the local elite.
From partners to competitors
In Depok, West Java, for example, the city’s sitting mayor and deputy mayor have split up to face off against one another for the upcoming mayorship contest. Incumbent Mayor Mohammad Idris has teamed up with local legislative council (DPRD) member Imam Budi Hartono, while incumbent Deputy Mayor Priadi Supriatna has paired up with Afifah Alia.
Centre for Strategic International Studies (CSIS) political researcher Arya Fernandes said the electoral contests where the incumbent leaders are splitting up to compete have all the ingredients to be a competitive race, as one often did not have a clear lead over the other.
