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Prabowo’s 'campy' campaign and Transmen Indonesia
As US President Biden drew some conservative heat for declaring Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31, it raised the question of whether president-elect Prabowo will follow suit in guaranteeing the rights of Indonesia's LGBT community.
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Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto (center) dances onstage at a gathering with supporters on Feb. 14, 2024, after the polls closed. (AFP/Yasuyoshi Chiba)
T
he word “camp” can mean many things, for example, temporary accommodation, living in a tent or squatting. As an adjective, it means ostentatious, exaggerated, affected, theatrical or effeminate, often implying a homosexual bent.
In politics, it means a group of people that supports a particular party, doctrine or individual.
Prabowo Subianto’s presidential campaign and what it will lead to is all of these things. Although he has been declared the winner of the 2024 presidential election, it’s still “camping”, as nothing in life is permanent, including politics. After five years he’ll be out, unless he runs for reelection and wins again – horror of horrors!
What political camp does he belong to?
According to Ihsan Yilmaz et al (European Center for Populism Studies, March 9, 2024): “Over the course of the past decade alone, Prabowo has undergone significant shifts in ideological stances, rhetorical appeals and electoral strategies. He has transformed from an ultra-nationalist, chauvinist and Islamist populist into a technocratic figure with a more approachable demeanor, strategically forming and changing alliances in his efforts to secure electoral success.”
Is that a long-winded and academic way to say he’s opportunistic and unprincipled?
As for Prabowo’s campaign, it was most definitely campy! The whole gemoy act and dancing onstage went viral.
