JAKARTA – The race to lead Indonesia, the world’s fourth-most populous nation, kicks off this week.

Here’s what you need to know:

What’s being decided on Feb 14, 2024?

The presidential poll will be held on the same day as a national parliamentary election and voters will also choose executive and legislative representatives at all administrative levels across Indonesia.

About 205 million of Indonesia’s more than 270 million people are eligible to vote and about a third of those are under the age of 30, according to the election commission.

What’s happening this week?

Three presidential candidates and their running mates have to present their credentials and policy platforms to the election commission between Oct 19 and 25.

A flurry of last-minute manoeuvring is under way by the country’s political heavyweights as they shore up ever-shifting alliances. 

Who is running?

There are three candidates vying to succeed incumbent President Joko Widodo, better known as Jokowi, who is finishing up the maximum two terms allowed by the Constitution.

Mr Prabowo Subianto, who narrowly lost to Mr Widodo in 2014 and 2019, is hoping that third time’s the charm. The defence minister is a controversial figure, with allegations of human rights abuses during his time as special forces commander doing little to dent his popularity among those who admire his heavy-handed leadership style.

Mr Ganjar Pranowo is the candidate of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle. His long career in public service, most recently as Central Java governor, has won him a following outside the capital Jakarta. He is neck and neck with Mr Prabowo in opinion polls.

Mr Anies Baswedan, former governor of Jakarta, is an independent candidate, trailing in surveys.

Any burning issues?

Critics have cast doubt on the integrity of the 2024 election amid what they see as Mr Widodo’s attempts to retain influence after leaving office.

A top court, headed by Mr Widodo’s brother-in-law and which will preside over any election disputes, tweaked eligibility criteria that would allow Mr Widodo’s son to join Mr Prabowo as his running mate – a move that some experts and voters say undermines Indonesia’s 25-year-old democracy.

Elections in Indonesia are often a battle of personalities rather than policies, with candidates running on similar platforms promoting growth, jobs and pluralism in the world’s largest Muslim-majority country.

How will a winner be decided?

A candidate needs a simple majority of votes to win, or more than 50 per cent. If no one manages that in the first round, a run-off election will be held in June between the two candidates with the highest number of votes.

The next president will take office in October 2024.

What happens next?

Candidates will ramp up their campaigns, criss-crossing the sprawling archipelago to meet constituents and build support. REUTERS