An inside look at how the Democratic Party works.
The group of young women and men went from one booth to another, inquiring about the political candidates’ past achievements and their ideas for the nation. A short distance away, new voters rehearsed the act of casting their votes in imaginary voting booths. Meanwhile, on stage, guests on a talk show talked about ways to make a well-informed decision when supporting a candidate.
The large assembly of over a thousand individuals in Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital city, on a recent Sunday was a precursor to an event called “Pesta Demokrasi,” which is commonly referred to as the Democracy Party in this region.
Revealing the challenges and obstacles facing the party.
Otherwise referred to as Election Day, it is the day when countless individuals throughout this immense collection of numerous islands make their way to polling stations, which are occasionally adorned with balloons, streamers, and flowers, and overseen by officials dressed in costumes depicting Spider-Man, Batman, Thor, or other superheroes. Upon casting their votes for presidential, parliamentary, and local legislative candidates, individuals set up camp near their designated polling locations, bringing along food as they anticipate the gradual arrival of preliminary vote counts. The subsequent “festivity” takes place on Wednesday.
Explore various electoral strategies and plans.
the paragraph could be paraphrased as: Indonesia was ruled by a brutal government until the mid-1990s, making the concept of having free and fair elections unimaginable at that time.SuhartoHowever, following his downfall in 1998, the nation became the third largest democracy in the world. This is partly due to the fact that Election Day is celebrated as a national holiday, resulting in consistently high voter turnout rates, which reached a record-breaking 80 percent in 2019. Additionally, the minimum voting age in Indonesia is 17, leading to a significant portion of the electorate being those under the age of 40, who make up over half of the 205 million voters in the country.
Analyze the main issues of interest to voters.
the faces of the three candidates, namely Anies Baswedan, Prabowo Subianto, and Ganjar Pranowo, can be seen on billboards along the main roads. Their debates are being widely talked about on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and X. Indonesians commonly identify the candidates by their candidate numbers, hence in households, they are referred to by their respective numbers.warungsIn this area filled with numerous restaurants and coffee shops, the common question that arises is: “Which option are you voting for – 1, 2, or 3?”
Describe the atmosphere on Election Day in various parts of the country.
However, there are restrictions to this active democratic election system.
According to Abigail Limuria, who organized the “Election Festival” gathering in Jakarta, Indonesia is still relatively inexperienced with democracy. Consequently, many people are not familiar with the concept of evaluating candidates based on their past experiences and ideas. Instead, they tend to vote for the same candidates chosen by their families. Limuria’s intention with the gathering was to educate voters about the candidates and the issues at hand.
Follow up on the voting process and count the votes.
This campaign has also raised concerns about the future of Indonesia’s hard-fought democratic principles. President Joko Widodo, who is currently serving his second term and is not allowed to run for a third term, has raised eyebrows among critics for facilitating his son’s bid for vice president, leading to accusations of dynastic politics. While he has not openly supported any candidate, he seems to have formed an alliance with Mr. Prabowo, a former opponent who has faced allegations of human rights violations and was previously married to one of Suharto’s daughters, the former dictator.
However, the notion persists that in the end, each and every vote holds significance.
Analyze results and future expectations.
Shiela Mutia Larasati, a 25-year-old fashion entrepreneur from Jakarta, expressed her eagerness to make a positive impact on Indonesia. She admitted to being indifferent in the past due to her youth, but now she feels hopeful for the country’s future.
Recent elections in Indonesia, which has the world’s largest Muslim population, have been tarnished by divisive identity politics. Mr. Joko, despite being neither Chinese nor Christian, was falsely labeled as such, while Mr. Prabowo, a perennial presidential candidate who has never won, faced scrutiny over the frequency of his prayers. Traditionally, campaigning involved distributing food supplies in exchange for votes. However, this year, the political discourse seems to be more inclined towards discussing issues like democracy and defense, although all presidential candidates share a similar vision to that of Mr. Joko: a policy centered on infrastructure and welfare initiatives.
Analysis of the repercussions of the elections on international relations.
Danis Syahroni, a 24-year-old student pursuing his postgraduate studies at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, expressed that he views this as a positive sign of democracy progressing. In his opinion, the ability to engage in debates and discussions about the ideas put forth by different candidates is indicative of democratic growth.
Around 1,200 individuals from the younger generation gathered at a convention hall in Jakarta for the event called the “Election Festival” or “Festival Pemilu.” As the day progressed, the queue became incredibly lengthy, leading the organizers to refuse entry to some attendees. One of the notable performances featured a comedy group called “Trio Netizen” comprising of young individuals.
Predict the future course of the Democratic Party.
One of the comedians, Eky Priyagung, jokingly advised elected officials not to lose their sanity and become crazy. This was in reference to the 2019 election, where some candidates who were unsuccessful were deeply affected and required professional help for their mental well-being. The audience found this amusing. Interestingly, this year, hospitals have announced the establishment of psychiatric wards specifically tailored for candidates.
The occasion was a result of a website known as “Choose Wisely,” which focuses on young voters. Ms. Abigail explained that she created the website because numerous young individuals are unsure about whom to vote for in this particular election. A number of them are uncertain about the unbiased nature of the country’s media outlets, as they are typically owned by wealthy individuals who align with their political backers.
Share voters’ stories and election experiences.
In order to encourage voters to vote, activists have utilized strategies such as memes and stunts. For example, they have created TikTok videos that compare the candidates to different Taylor Swift songs. Additionally, there is a light-hearted campaign on Spotify called “Spotify Wrapped” that cleverly intertwines music with statistics related to corruption.
One candidate has benefitted from using social media as well. By employing clever digital strategies, Mr. Prabowo has managed to transform his image from a feared military figure to a lovable grandfather. There are many young individuals who are unaware of his history. Moreover, his apparent collaboration with Mr. Joko has further boosted his popularity.
Over the past few weeks, there has been a growing opposition against Mr. Prabowo, depicted through individuals displaying four fingers on their hand. The symbolism behind this gesture suggests that voters should opt for any candidate other than Mr. Prabowo, instead favoring either No. 1 (Mr. Anies) or No. 3 (Mr. Ganjar).
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Highlighting the human side of the electoral process.
Indonesian K-pop enthusiasts have surprisingly shown their backing for Mr. Anies, a former governor of Jakarta. Demonstrating their support, they have financed a food truck, erected digital billboards through crowdfunding, and purchased light sticks for his final campaign event. The admiration stems from Mr. Anies’ unexpected popularity after participating in a debate, followed by a TikTok livestream where he interacted with supporters akin to a famous K-pop idol, discussing topics such as his personal relationships and preferred books.
Highlight the impact of elections on people’s lives.
If any of the three candidates do not receive over 50 percent of the vote, there will be a second election in June. Recent polls indicate that Mr. Prabowo might exceed the 50 percent threshold, but this outcome is not guaranteed. However, the one thing that is definite is the significant amount of involvement from the public.
Kayla Jasmine, a 20-year-old first-time voter attending the Election Festival in Jakarta, expressed her immense enthusiasm to be a part of the democracy party.
