Millions of Indonesians choose new President in one of world's largest elections
The Hindu
Millions of Indonesians choose a new President as the country aims to become a global economic powerhouse.
Millions of Indonesians were choosing a new President on Wednesday as the world's third-largest democracy aspires to become a global economic powerhouse just over 25 years since emerging from a brutal authoritarian era.
The incumbent Indonesian Defence Minister, who has been accused of human rights atrocities as an ex-general, and two former governors are vying to succeed the still-widely popular President Joko Widodo.
Widodo's rise from a riverside slum to his country's presidency has showcased the vibrancy of his Southeast Asian nation's democracy in a region rife with authoritarian regimes.
The voting in a vast archipelago of 17,000 islands sprawled across three time zones, with a population of 270 million, is a logistical nightmare, with white ballot boxes and ballots being brought by donkeys and on foot in some of the more remote locations. Polls open at 7 am local time in each time zone and the first region began voting at 22.00 GMT.
Aside from the presidency, about 20,000 national, provincial and district parliamentary posts would be contested by tens of thousands of candidates. About 10,000 hopefuls from 18 political parties are eyeing the the national parliament's 580 seats alone.
The presidency is being contested by Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and two former provincial governors, Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo.
Subianto, who is the frontrunner based on several independent surveys, has picked Widodo's eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, as his vice-presidential running mate.
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