JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto maintains a lead in the early stages of the 2024 presidential election, particularly garnering support from young voters, according to a recent opinion poll.
The Indikator poll, which specifically targetted young voters, indicated that Prabowo had a slight to significant advantage in various scenarios.
The poll was conducted between June 20 and 24, surveying 1,220 individuals in the world’s third-largest democracy, with over 60% of respondents under the age of 42. Electoral data reveals that over half of the registered voters for the February 2024 election are young people aged below 40.
In a comparison among the top three potential presidential candidates, Prabowo emerged with 36.8% support, narrowly leading Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo with 35.7%, and former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan with 21.5%. The poll had a margin of error of 2.9 percentage points.
In a head-to-head race with Ganjar, Prabowo held a clear advantage with 49.5% compared to Ganjar’s 40.9%.
This is the third poll since May that portrays the former general as an early and unexpected frontrunner, with the latest survey indicating substantial support from Gen Z, Millennials, and Baby Boomers.
Prabowo, a controversial former general who has always denied allegations of human rights abuses, experienced defeat in consecutive presidential bids in 2014 and 2019.
However, he has gained legitimacy as the defence minister and embarked on a rebranding campaign, which includes effectively connecting with the younger generation through a sophisticated social media presence.
Analysts attribute his increasing popularity to the tacit support of President Joko Widodo, who maintains an approval rating above 80%. Widodo, also known as Jokowi, was elected in 2014 and is currently serving his second and final term.
In recent public events, the president, a member of the Democratic Party of Struggle, which has officially nominated Ganjar as its candidate, has frequently appeared alongside Prabowo, further contributing to his growing popularity.
Reporting by Kate Lamb; Editing by William Mallard
Credit: The Star : News Feed
