Indonesia is on the cusp of a pivotal presidential election, set to take place on Wednesday, Feb. 14, with massive gatherings marking the end of the election campaign. The election has spotlighted the country's potential to become a significant player in Asia, underscored by its strategic openness to investment and a rich reserve of vital battery metals. However, concerns loom over the democratic process, with Gen. Prabowo Subianto, a candidate with a controversial past, hinting at authoritarian inclinations and being on the verge of presidency. Subianto's rise, facilitated by a TikTok rebranding among the platform's 125 million users in Indonesia, and the support of outgoing President Joko Widodo, despite his ambivalent stance towards democracy and a troubling human rights record, has sparked student protests and fears of Indonesia, the world's third-largest democracy, sliding back towards authoritarianism. The election's outcome is seen as crucial, with implications for Indonesia's alignment in global geopolitics and its economic trajectory.
Indonesia's presidential candidates vie for the votes of young voters on TikTok https://t.co/OqbKx1PvxM https://t.co/RvbPnlqwAL
The stakes are higher than many realize in Indonesia's election, writes @johnauthers. Investors hope it will continue to keep both China and the US happy https://t.co/hamq8YNRCu via @opinion
Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will hold its general election on Wednesday. This election season has raised fears that the country, which was an authoritarian state not long ago, is in danger of sliding back toward its dark past. https://t.co/QnbZK977bK
⚠️ INDONESIA STUDENTS PLAN TO PROTEST ALLEGED POLL INTERFERENCE (Reuters) Hundreds of Indonesian students and activists will stage protests on Monday over what they see as outgoing President Joko Widodo's abuse of power to sway voters in this week's election in favour of… https://t.co/l85A6iSJSB
Just two more days before Indonesia votes. This election is a real nail-biter —the fate of the world’s third-largest democracy is at stake. https://t.co/Qge4GL1LQp
Indonesia Presidential Candidates Duke It Out On TikTok https://t.co/YQZj9PQDlJ
Indonesia's Pres. Jokowi once vowed to stand up to the elite, but he has now "thrown his weight behind Prabowo Subianto, a former general and son-in-law of Suharto, who has an appalling human-rights record and a professed ambivalence towards democracy." https://t.co/l8glReCuyL
The stakes are higher than many realize in Indonesia's election, writes @johnauthers. Investors hope it will continue to keep both China and the US happy https://t.co/jgfwGT3FUm
To court young voters, all three presidential candidates in the Feb. 14 race to lead Indonesia have gravitated toward TikTok, which has 125 million users in the country, second only to the United States https://t.co/veL5UDgcKu
Indonesia election: cuddly avatar could boost strongman with a dark past Once Prabowo Subianto was one of the most feared figures in the country. Now a TikTok rebranding has made him frontrunner to lead the world’s third-largest democracy ⬇️ https://t.co/o5vI7rfcXE
Openness to investment from both China and the West, and an enormous stockpile of a vital battery metal, could prove a powerful combination for Indonesia’s economy. But there are risks to the approach https://t.co/IUFF1kPcD1 👇
Joko Widodo ascended to Indonesia’s presidency in 2014 as a breath of fresh air. But by failing to entrench Indonesia’s democracy, even as he has strengthened its economy, he leaves behind a rotten smell https://t.co/EbLMsxXHCa 👇
Indonesia election 2024: students protest Jokowi’s perceived lack of neutrality, but will movement impact voters? https://t.co/Jp8WgHfQ4s
Indonesia will not be an American ally any time soon, but a Prabowo Subianto victory in the upcoming presidential elections could help Washington ensure that Jakarta remains safely non-aligned. https://t.co/ZRspurVHWI via @jordanmcgillis
Gen. Prabowo of Indonesia,who made his name through abduction,torture & massacre mused to me about becoming "a fascist dictator"& called himself "the Americans' fair-haired boy."Now with the help of the state apparatus,he is on the verge of the presidency. https://t.co/vDpXigcwIQ
Prabowo: “Indonesia is not ready for democracy.” He praised a coup in Pakistan and mused about making a similar move in Indonesia. “Do I have the guts?” he asked. Am I ready to be called a fascist dictator?” https://t.co/VD2OAZz0fd
Indonesia has all the right ingredients to make it one of the most influential countries in Asia. Ahead of its election on Wednesday, four charts and a map illustrate the country’s huge potential https://t.co/3uVcEeLeip 👇
Massive gatherings sweep Indonesia as candidates conclude their election campaign https://t.co/xzbCbQTrav https://t.co/pvB50QB6wP