The Last Minute Maneuvers (1)
Today is the last campaign day before entering the three-day of ‘silentium magnum’. Pair candidate Joko Widodo and Ma’ruf Amin will have their big campaign at the Bung Karno Stadion, Jakarta. Wrapped in a giant concert performing 500 artists, millions of supporters are expected to show up in what might be the largest rally from the incumbent.
Kalla & The 2019 Race
Fraud allegation in overseas elections (Malaysia) and confirmation of support from influential Moslem preacher Ustad Abdul Somad (UAS) might ‘benefit’ Prabowo’s campaign. Vice President Jusuf Kalla, who is the adviser of the National Campaign Team (TKN) of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo-KH Ma’ruf Amin (Jokowi-Amin), however, shared his optimism and prediction that Jokowi will win the 2019 presidential election. Kalla, as we all know, has lately appeared more active in campaigning for Jokowi’s reelection as a proof of his solid support to the President.
Prabowo’s Blunder
The temperament of presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto remains under the spotlight. His supporters are busy with damage control because of that. That being said, Prabowo doesn’t seem to care at all. To make things worse, in a speech he delivered at the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Stadium Prabowo said that he’d give corruptors a portion of the money they stole as pension fund.
Jokowi vs Prabowo: Last Campaign
Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto ended his mass campaign in Solo (Central Java), the hometown of incumbent President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, yesterday (April 11). A day earlier, Jokowi also campaigned in Solo, but the President will continue campaigning until the last campaign day.
The Latest on the Jakarta MRT
The Jakarta Mass Rapid Transport (MRT) is now operating commercially. The people are excited and they are enjoying this new modern public facility. Their enthusiasm can be seen in every MRT station, especially in the three most busy stations.
Polling War Continues
The Saiful Mujani Research & Consulting (SMRC) have released the result of their latest electability survey, in which they found the incumbent President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and his running mate KH. Ma’ruf Amin (Jokowi-Amin) comfortably leading the race by a 20% margin. The other pollster Voxpol Center Research & Consulting, meanwhile, found that the margin between Jokowi-Amin and Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno (Prabowo-Sandi) was only 5.5%.
2019 Race: Overseas Election
Beginning Monday (Apr. 8), Indonesian citizens overseas have started to vote. The process will continue until next week (April 14). The General Election Commission (KPU) said that the 2019 simultaneous presidential and legislative elections voting overseas has been running smoothly.
Prabowo-Sandi’s Disorganized Statements
The Campaign Director of Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno (Prabowo-Sandi) National Campaign Team (BPN) Sugiono, who is also the deputy chairman of Prabowo’s Gerindra Party, claimed that their internal survey had shown Prabowo-Sandi leading the race by a significant margin. Unlike Sugiono, Sandi himself stated that their internal survey had shown their electability a bit behind the incumbent President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo-KH Ma’ruf Amin (Jokowi-Amin).
Prabowo’s Personality (4)
Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto attended a public rally held at the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Stadium yesterday (April 8). In the said rally, Prabowo’s raw personality again came to light.
Sign of A Political Breakup?
Former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) had sent a letter in his capacity as the chairman of Democratic Party to his party officials. In the letter, he asked his partymen to remind Prabowo of the importance of promoting diversity by running an inclusive campaign, instead of championing identity politics. Is this a sign of a friction between the two?