Indonesian students demand president stay neutral before poll

as president is known, has not explicitly endorsed any of three candidates in election

By Reuters
February 08, 2024
President Joko Widodo addresses an event. — AFP/File
President Joko Widodo addresses an event. — AFP/File 

JAKARTA: Around 100 students marched in Indonesia’s capital Jakarta on Wednesday to protest what they say is political interference by outgoing president, Joko Widodo, in the presidential election to be held on Feb 14.

While Jokowi, as the president is known, has not explicitly endorsed any of the three candidates in the election, he has made highly publicised appearances with frontrunner Prabowo Subianto, whose running mate is the president’s eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

In Indonesia, sitting presidents are allowed to campaign for candidates provided they do not use state resources and take official leave to do so, but incumbents have typically remained neutral.