Indonesia's Prabowo leads as presidential campaign kicks off

Race highlights growing rift between Jokowi and his political party

Presidential candidates and their running mates, from left to right, Anies Baswedan, Muhaimin Iskandar, Prabowo Subianto, Gibran Rakabuming, Ganjar Pranowo and Mohammad Mahfud MD, on Nov. 14. © Reuters

ERWIDA MAULIA, Nikkei staff writer

November 28, 2023 16:28 JST

Updated on November 28, 2023 18:50 JST

JAKARTA -- Indonesia on Tuesday kicked off the official 75-day campaign period ahead of the country's presidential election next February, with Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto widening his lead over his two rivals, according to the latest opinion polls.

Former Jakarta Gov. Anies Baswedan, an opposition candidate, kicked off his campaign the same day in Tanah Merah, a slum in northern Jakarta, where he helped local residents tackle a land dispute problem while serving as governor.