JAKARTA -- Indonesian President Joko Widodo's draft state budget for 2019 promises a raft of dole-outs as he prepares to do battle for a second term in next year's presidential election.
The draft, presented by the president on Thursday, included increases in subsidies as well as civil servants' pay, and a doubling of benefits to poor households. These moves -- which Widodo was quick to stress were aimed at achieving equitable growth -- are a not-so-subtle attempt to win over voters ahead of the election in April, where he will face Prabowo Subianto, a former military general, who plans to campaign on populist policies.
