Indonesia election 2024: Ganjar Pranowo says he can win without President Joko Widodo’s support

Ganjar Pranowo’s humble upbringing contrasts with political dynasties, ex-military figures with deep roots in the Suharto era who have dominated Indonesian politics

The former governor of Central Java will face defence minister and front runner Prabowo Subianto and former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan in February

3-MIN READ3-MIN

Indonesia’s presidential candidate and former Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo gestures during an interview in Jakarta. He will face defence minister and frontrunner Prabowo Subianto and former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan next month. Photo: AFP

Published: 6:52pm, 5 Jan 2024Updated: 4:18pm, 10 Jan 2024

In an upscale area of the capital Jakarta, Ganjar Pranowo says he can win Indonesia’s coming election against the odds by focusing on bread-and-butter issues, a lesson learned from his upbringing in a mountainside village.

“Siding with the small … the poor. Why do I say that? Because I myself experienced that situation since childhood,” the ruling party candidate told AFP in an exclusive interview.

“The matters are simple. Access to education, access to health, access to housing, access to food, which they want to get equally like others.”

The former governor of Central Java will face defence minister and front runner Prabowo Subianto and former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan in February in a vote that will decide which will lead the world’s third-largest democracy.

A motorcyclist rides past an election billboard of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle. Photo: AFP

Pranowo’s humble demeanour is a stark contrast to the political dynasties and ex-military figures with deep roots in the Suharto era who have dominated Indonesian politics since the end of the dictator’s three-decade rule in 1998.