Troops and police deployed as regional elections put Indonesia on high alert
Elections for 171 city mayors, regents and provincial governors are likely to set the tone for next year’s national parliamentary and presidential polls
Tens of millions of Indonesian voters headed to the polls under tight security on Wednesday to cast ballots in regional elections across the world’s third-largest democracy and biggest Muslim-majority country.
The elections for 171 city mayors, regents, and provincial governors are likely to set the tone for national parliamentary and presidential elections in 2019, with some hardline Islamic leaders now publicly calling for the ousting of President Joko Widodo, who is expected to seek a second term.
Widodo has pledged to protect Indonesia’s tradition of pluralism and moderate Islam.
Indonesia is on high alert after a series of suicide attacks in Surabaya city killed 30 people last month, in the deadliest militant Islamist attacks in over a decade.
National police and military have deployed thousands of personnel to secure the polls, as voters cast ballots in polling booths set up in schools, town halls, and outdoor tents.
“We are carrying out regular police operations and we have deployed 171,000 alongside the military,” said national police spokesman Setyo Wasisto.
