Monday, April 15, 2019

Now That Campaign Period Is Over, What Will Jokowi and Prabowo Be Doing?



Presidential and legislative candidates are required to take down all their street posters during the quiet period before the voting day. (Antara Photo/Arif Firmansyah)




BY : CHRISTIAN LEE

APRIL 14, 2019


Jakarta. Starting from today, Indonesian voters will go through masa tenang, a mandatory three-day "quiet period" before heading to the polling booths on Wednesday (17/04).

During this period, any form of campaigning is prohibited. This includes holding rallies, debates, public meetings, distributing campaign material, putting up posters, publishing polling results, broadcasting replays of presidential or vice-presidential debates and posting political ads on social media.


Article 287 of the 2017 Election Law states that print media, online media, social media and broadcasting institutions are also prohibited from "publishing or broadcasting news articles, advertisements, track records of election candidates or campaign-related material that benefit or disadvantage a candidate."

The Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) has reminded all broadcasting institutions to follow the regulations that have been laid down.

"We hope that all broadcasting institutions comply with the rules so there's no interruption to the quiet period. Let’s give people space to think calmly and make choices according to their conscience without pressure and influence from anyone," KPI head Yuliandre Darwis said in a statement on Saturday.


The quiet period will also give time for presidential and legislative candidates to take down their loud and gaudy street banners and posters. Kids in Surabaya turn unused political banners into shopping bags and school satchels. (Antara Photo/Moch Asim)

What Will the Candidates Do?

Incumbent president Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and his wife Iriana will spend the quiet period in Mecca for the umrah (mini hajj) and are scheduled for a meeting with King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud. They are due to return to Indonesia on Monday night.

Jokowi’s running mate Ma’ruf Amin has chosen to spend time with his family until Tuesday, a day before the presidential election, after traveling around the country for three weeks in a taxing campaign season.


Prabowo Subianto has a much busier schedule than his rival. He plans to attend weddings, visit clerics, welcome guests at his home in Hambalang, West Java, and exercise.

"If I don’t work out, I will get stressed," Prabowo said after the final presidential debate at The Sultan Hotel in Central Jakarta on Saturday.

Deputy House speaker and Prabowo's campaign team advisor Fadli Zon said that during the quiet period, Prabowo will also meet with leaders of his supporting political parties and inaugurate a mosque in Bogor.

Like Jokowi, vice-presidential candidate Sandiaga Uno will also travel to Mecca with his wife Nur Asia for umrah.

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