Presidential candidate Anies Baswedan tours Australia in search of replacement for Joko Widodo

“All things being equal, foreign policy and the global activism of a candidate are not very important in Indonesian elections, but when competition is tough, there is a desire for the president to have an international presence. It could be decided by a handful of middle-class voters,” said Associate Professor Markus Mietzner, an expert on Indonesian politics at the Australian National University.

“An interesting aspect of this is that Agnès should minimize the need for such world travel. He has a Ph.D. from the United States. This suggests that this is not just a matter of foreign policy: it is also that he is not viewed as an Islamist by his Western partners, and that he is not seen by his Western partners as an Islamist. It seems to be intended to show

Widodo, better known as Jokowi, is also scheduled to fly to Canberra for this year’s annual summit, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s visits to Jakarta and Makassar just two weeks after Labor’s election victory in May amid the pandemic. later resumed.

According to Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, no date has been set but it will likely take place in the middle of the year.

However, with Widodo set to complete his second and final term in October 2024, much attention has been focused on who will succeed him.

Baswedan has spent the last three years. Leading Jakarta’s Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic It is credited with taking steps such as expanding public parks while running a large city.

He also actively displayed his pluralist credentials while in charge of the capital. This includes directing emergency cash assistance during the pandemic to other religious places of worship and mosques, as well as overseeing the introduction of Christmas carols in public.

But Asra Virgianita, an international relations scholar at the University of Indonesia, said Baswedan still faces a battle to move away from the identity politics of six years ago. He is believed to have used the religious card in his 2017, 2014 and 2019 presidential elections when he was defeated by Widodo, a political party led by Subianto. He is supported by Gerindra. I was.

“I think the point here is [Baswedan feels he needs] I’ll revise it in the context of the presidential election,” she said.

“He wants the international community not to see him as a person with discriminatory policies. I think this is the most important thing he has to do. “

Support from hugely popular Widodo is also looming as the key to shaping this year’s pre-election situation, but Bhaswedan, who was ousted from the cabinet in 2016 and is considered a political opponent of the president, is backing that support. you won’t receive it..

Still, Miesner thinks the election prospects are solid.

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“His potential is good. The competition between Ganjar, Agnès and Prabowo is fierce and could be decided by a few percentage points. [the winner],” He said.

“Agnès’ biggest flaw as an Arab is his lack of attractiveness in central Java. Has trouble convincing religious minorities that his dog whistle campaign was an isolated incident.

“But he is young, energetic, eloquent and charismatic, and is seen as doing a good job as governor.

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