ZCZC
BFF-40
INDONESIA-POLITICS
Indonesia president chooses cleric as VP pick in 2019 election race
JAKARTA, Aug 10, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Indonesia’s 2019 presidential race took
shape Friday with incumbent Joko Widodo choosing to run alongside a
conservative Islamic cleric against controversial ex-general Prabowo
Subianto.
Widodo, whose down-to-earth style and ambitious infrastructure drive has
made him popular with many Indonesians, picked cleric Ma’ruf Amin as his vice
presidential nominee.
The decision will bolster the president’s Islamic credentials but could be
polarizing among more progressive voters.
Amin, 75, is the current chairman the country’s top Islamic authority the
Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), which issues fatwas and has some influence
over government policy on Islamic matters.
Known for his disparaging views towards certain minorities, including
Indonesia’s LGBT community, Amin was instrumental in the jailing of Jakarta’s
former Christian governor Basuki “Ahok” Purnama in 2017 by declaring he had
committed blasphemy.
Widodo told supporters Friday, however, he wanted an election fought on
ideas and achievements, “not divisiveness”.
The pair will square off against Prabowo and deputy Jakarta governor
Sandiaga Uno, a former businessman and private equity tycoon.
Prabowo, who lost to Widodo in 2014, officially enjoys the support of the
Democratic Party and two small Islamic parties, the Prosperous Justice Party
(PKS) and the National Mandate Party (PAN).
Opinion polls show Prabowo is well behind Widodo, who is popularly known as
Jokowi.
Prabowo was a top military figure in the chaotic months before dictator
Suharto was toppled by student protests in 1998.
Following the strongman’s downfall, he admitted ordering the abduction of
democracy activists and was discharged from the military for exceeding
orders, but has never faced a civilian court.
BSS/AFP/SSS/1537 hrs