The largest single-day poll in the world was held in Indonesia on the 14th, with over 200 million people casting their votes. It is unique to note that of the total voters, more than half were under 40, which amounts to approximately 100 million people. This demographic shift is a testament to the country’s youthful population, contrasting with other nations’ ageing populations.
The election surprised many countries due to its massive scale, with a turnout of nearly 80%. The peaceful nature of the election was also noteworthy, considering the potential for violence or unrest in such large-scale events.
The election was not only significant for its size but also for its impact on the political landscape of the country. The candidates were competing for the presidency, parliament, and regional positions, with various issues on the agenda, including economic growth, job creation, and environmental policy.
The election in Indonesia was impressive, with a massive scale, diverse issues, and a peaceful outcome. It is a testament to the country’s democratic values and the political engagement of its young population.
How the late Suharto addressed the people on the eve of the election
The world’s attention was drawn to an event on the eve of an election in Indonesia. General Suharto, a former military leader who passed away in 2008, released a video on social media asking all Indonesians to vote for his son-in-law, Prabowo Subianto, a popular politician in the country. General Suharto, who was known as a brutal dictator during his time as Indonesia’s second president, was also referred to as the ‘Smiling General’ due to his friendly demeanour.
However, the video broadcast on social media was not of the real General Suharto but rather an AI-generated version. The AI creation was very similar to the real Suharto and used his actual voice. It also appears that the process was designed to favour Prabowo Subianto, 72 years old, and General Suharto’s son-in-law. The ‘Golkar’ party, one of Indonesia’s oldest political parties, was reportedly behind the video’s creation.
Strong candidates and people’s attention
The election was meant to elect a new president, vice president, parliamentary and regional members. However, most of the attention was focused on who would become the next leader of Indonesia. After President Joko Widodo’s 10-year rule, people were anxious about the country’s new direction, and Indonesians had to scrutinise the leading presidential candidates. Prominent candidates included former Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, former Governor of Java Gangar Pranovo, and former Education Minister Anees Baswedan.
Subianto Front
The results of Indonesia’s election were released less than 24 hours after polling ended. However, that was done by giving preliminary results, which many believe is unfair. The initial results show that the winner has secured 57% of the votes counted, leading the Indonesian election authorities to declare that a second voting round is unnecessary.
However, it may take more than a month for the official results of the world’s most significant one-day election to be announced, and they will be released on March 20th. Despite concerns about the fairness of preliminary results, this system is legally accepted by the country’s states as it has been successful in previous elections. According to reports, the new ruler of Indonesia will be Subianto.
Subianto celebrates with supporters
Subianto and his supporters are celebrating their apparent victory in the presidential election. However, there have also been criticisms of this victory due to Subianto’s record of human rights violations and his close association with former Indonesian dictator Suharto. Despite running for president twice before and losing to the popular Joko Widodo, Subianto has secured a significant win this time.
According to preliminary results, his opponents, Ganger Pranovo and Anees Basvedan, received 17% and 25% of the votes, respectively. The success of Subianto’s campaign is attributed mainly to his strong social media presence, particularly on platforms like TikTok, which helped him reach and engage with a young audience.
A pledge from Subianto
Subianto, while addressing the people, expressed his certainty of victory and paid his respects to the current President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo. He emphasised that he would lead the country forward by continuing the policies introduced by Widodo. Subianto also stated his commitment to protecting the honour of his motherland and ensuring its continuity.
President Widodo was accused of
The other candidates were accused of voter fraud in the recent election, making it unfair. They pointed out that President Joko Widodo unintentionally supported one of the candidates during the campaign. Political commentators are saying that the election results are now confusing. However, President Widodo’s political influence remains strong.
He has not announced his retirement from politics, so he plans to continue his involvement. Widodo is a skilled politician with a political and military background. It is believed that he hopes to maintain his political power and authority by supporting the opposing candidate.
