The survey by Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC), conducted from May 2 to 5 by telephone and published on Monday, polled 925 respondents on the issue of change and continuity.

“Fifty-eight percent of critical voters believe that Ganjar will continue President Jokowi’s programs with only 22 percent judging that Ganjar will undermine the President’s legacy,” SMRC political researcher Deni Irvani said.

This contrasts starkly with the public’s perception of Anies. Only 27 percent of respondents believed the former governor of Jakarta would continue the President’s programs, and 47 percent said Anies would change Jokowi’s policies.

Both Ganjar and Jokowi are members of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), and the two have been noted for their preference for blusukan (impromptu visits), which have been something of a political calling card for Jokowi.

Jokowi has been actively seeking to influence the hunt for his successor to ensure that his legacy continues past 2024, when his second and final term ends. He has appeared to hint at his support for both Ganjar and Gerindra Party chair Prabowo Subianto for the 2024 presidency but has not officially endorsed any candidates yet.

Read also: Jokowi makes last ditch attempt to salvage ‘grand alliance’

Meanwhile, Anies, a former ally of Jokowi, has aligned himself with the opposition since being ousted as education and culture minister in 2016.

In the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election, Anies defeated incumbent Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, who had previously served as the capital’s deputy governor when it was under Jokowi’s leadership. The PDI-P criticized Anies for doing away with several of his predecessor’s programs during his two-term governorship, which ended last year.

Interim Jakarta governor Heru Budi Hartono, who was handpicked by Jokowi to fill the post until an official governor is elected next year, resumed the Ciliwung River normalization project late last year after Anies halted the program during his time as governor.

Anies, with the backing of the Coalition for Change and Unity (KPP), an electoral alliance consisting of the tenuously pro-government NasDem Party and the country’s two remaining opposition parties, the Democratic Party and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), has criticized a number of the Jokowi administration’s policies, including incentives for electric vehicles rolled out in April.

“Giving electric vehicle subsidies to owners of private vehicles who don't really need the help isn’t the solution to pollution and environmental problems,” Anies said in a rally hosted by his supporters on Sunday. While Anies praised the government’s infrastructure achievements, he said he wanted the country’s new roads to be filled with electric public transportation in lieu of private vehicles.

Read also: Anies pledges to deliver Jokowi's new capital if elected

But Anies has taken a more tolerant position toward Jokowi’s pet project to build a new national capital in East Kalimantan. With plans for the new capital city having been passed into law, Anies has said any future president would be bound to abide by them.

Meanwhile, SMRC found that Gerindra chair Prabowo was seen as occupying the middle ground politically, with 36 percent respondents saying he would follow in the President’s footsteps and 39 percent believing he would not.

“The difference is insignificant and within the 3.3 percent margin of error,” Deni said.

Despite a fierce rivalry with Jokowi in the last two elections, Prabowo has become a close ally of the President since being appointed defense minister in 2019.

Read also: Prabowo beats Ganjar, Anies in presidential runoff: LSI survey

With Jokowi’s approval rating currently at 78 percent, SMRC found that 57 percent of respondents were in favor of candidates who would maintain the current administration’s priorities. Only 33 percent respondents wanted candidates that represented change.

“In the eyes of voters, Ganjar and Anies represent the divide between continuity and change,” Deni said. “The administration’s performance will continue to affect the electability of [these two opposing candidates]”.