JAKARTA, Dec 26 (Reuters) – Indonesian defence minister and presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto cemented his lead in the polls after candidates took part in live debates ahead of the looming Feb. 14.
A Dec. 23-24 poll released by Indikator Politik Indonesia on Tuesday showed that Prabowo, who is running with President Joko Widodo’s 36-year-old son Gibran Rakabuming Raka, would win 46.7% of the vote.
Indikator put former Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo as his closest opponent, with 24.5% of the vote, while former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan had the support of 21% of those polled.
A poll by Kompas this month gave Prabowo 39.3% of the vote and put Anies as his closest opponent with 16.7%, followed by Ganjar 15.3%.
Indikator’s survey was performed after televised debates between the presidential candidates on Dec. 12 and candidates for vice president on Dec. 22.
A ruling by the country’s constitutional court this October paved the way for Gibran to run in the elections, raising widespread concern about the deepening of dynastic politics in the world’s third-largest democracy.
During the televised debate Gibran defended his father’s business agenda, especially development of the new capital city.
Three more discussions are expected before the election.