Indonesia’s Presidential Frontrunner Falters in Debate but could Win Election

Picture: Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP via Getty Images

In an article by The Interpreter, Warief Djajanto Basorie reports the presidential debate that went on in January, and how the debate turned heated when it came to the issue of defence and international affairs.

Indonesia’s presidential election is heating up – so much that poll leader Prabowo Subianto nearly lost his cool. A televised debate between the candidates on defence and international affairs this month turned contentious. But Prabowo’s quick temper may not cost him victory.

Appearing ruffled, Prabowo explained that military aircraft and warships have a 25-30 year life span. The plan to buy Mirage fighters from Qatar, he said, was no problem as they could still fly another 15 years, and buying new planes requires a longer delivery period of up to seven years.

This back-and-forth amounted to little more than standard political posturing, the costings rubbery, the commitments vague. But on foreign affairs, one critical question raised was the South China Sea. China’s “nine-dash-line” unilaterally claims an expanse of ocean more than 2000 kilometres from its shores, including overlapping Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone.