The former Jakarta governor who is contesting the 2024 presidential election with Muhaimin Iskandar as running mate started his campaign in the Tanah Merah neighborhood of North Jakarta.
From Jakarta, Baswedan and the members of his campaign team as well as cadres and loyalists of his political coalition continued their campaign in Bogor district.
Baswedan shared his campaign pledges with the grassroots during his campaign trail, his national campaign manager, Muhammad Syaugi, informed.
Speaking before several thousand people gathered at the Laga Satria Sports Hall of Pakansari Soccer Stadium in Cibinong, Baswedan said that he included Bogor in his campaign kick-off because it is very close to Jakarta and is one of the largest districts in West Java.
"With a population of 5.6 million people, Bogor district is important. West Java is also a province with highly significant position for contesting the presidential race," he added.
He thanked the crowds for welcoming his campaign with high enthusiasm. He also shared his vision for change, specifically to improve the living conditions of all Indonesians in terms of indicators such as affordable food and housing.
Meanwhile, presidential candidate number 3, Ganjar Pranowo, started the first day of his campaign from Indonesia's eastern province of South Papua, where he met with head of the Archdiocese of Merauke, Monsignor Petrus Canisius Mandagi.
During the meeting, Mandagi urged Pranowo — whose running mate is the incumbent Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, Mahfud MD — to apply the principle of prudence in his actions.
Pranowo also received two books on Papua, Bringing Justice and Peace to Papua and Belajar Mencintai Papua (Learning to Love Papua), from the Archdiocese of Merauke.
Meanwhile, for presidential candidate number 2, Prabowo Subianto, it was work as usual on the first day of the official campaign kick-off.
According to secretary of the Subianto-Raka campaign team, Nusron Wahid, Subianto decided to continue with his defense ministerial duties on Tuesday. His running mate, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, also continued to discharge his duties as the mayor of Surakarta, he added.
Prabowo and Raka will take two days' leave in a week's time for their presidential campaign, Wahid informed.
The General Elections Commission (KPU) has set the presidential campaign period from November 28, 2023, to February 10, 2024. The presidential and parliamentary elections will be held on February 14, 2024.
The presidential election will be contested by three pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates: Baswedan-Iskandar, Subianto-Raka, and Pranowo-Mahfud.
Baswedan and Iskandar have been nominated with the support of the NasDem Party, National Awakening Party (PKB), Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), and Ummat Party.
Meanwhile, Subianto and Raka have the backing of the Gerindra Party and a coalition of parties, including Golkar, National Mandate Party (PAN), Democratic Party, and Gelora Party.
Pranowo and Mahfud are running with the support of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), United Development Party, Perindo Party, and Hanura Party.
Regarding the election campaign, the presidents of eight universities in Yogyakarta have urged those contesting the 2024 elections to conduct their campaign fairly, democratically, and peacefully.
The call for a fair, democratic, and peaceful campaign was given out during an event at the Gadjah Mada University (UGM) rectorate building on November 24, according to UGM's website, which ANTARA accessed on Tuesday.
The universities are UGM, Yogyakarta State University (UNY), Veteran National Development University (UPN), Indonesian Islamic University (UII), State Islamic University (UIN) of Sunan Kalijaga, Sanata Dharma University (USD), University of Atma Jaya Yogyakarta (UAJY), and APMD College of Rural Community Development.
UGM Rector Professor Ova Emilia was quoted as saying that the presidential and parliamentary elections need to be safeguarded to make sure that the fiesta of democracy runs constitutionally and has legitimacy in accordance with the principles of democracy.
The KPU said that it has determined the final voter list, the final list of lawmaker candidates for the House of Representatives (DPR), and the final list of candidates for the Regional Representatives Council (DPD RI) members.
The final voter list for the 2024 elections comprises 204,807,222 voters, the final list of lawmaker candidates for DPR has 9,917 candidates, and the final list of candidates for DPD members has 668 candidates.
Registered voters will cast their votes for the presidential and vice presidential candidates, legislators (DPR/DPRD), and DPD members at polling booths on February 14, 2024.
For the elections, KPU has determined 84 electoral districts for 580 seats at DPR, 301 electoral districts for 2,372 seats at provincial legislative bodies (DPRD Provinsi), and 2,325 electoral districts for 17,510 seats at district/city legislative bodies (DPRD Kabupaten/Kota).
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Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
