Indonesia’s first presidential debate: Five key takeaways

Medan, Indonesia – Indonesian candidates have clashed in the first of five televised debates, ahead of the presidential election on February 14 next year.

The hotly anticipated first debate focused on the theme of law and human rights, with candidates – Prabowo Subianto, Ganjar Pranowo and Anies Baswedan – presenting mission statements before answering questions prepared by experts.

The candidates then asked each other a series of prepared questions in a quick-fire Q&A session.

The debate, which lasted two and a half hours, was at times fiery as candidates sparred over human rights abuses across Indonesia and a recent controversial decision by Indonesia’s Constitutional Court to lower the minimum age limit for elected officials to run for the presidency and vice presidency.

The three men are looking to succeed incumbent Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, who has already served two terms and cannot run again.

Here are five key takeaways from the debate.

Experts told media that no clear frontrunner emerged from the debate, with none of the candidates managing to land a “knock-out punch” that was likely to change voting projections.

Opinion polls currently put Prabowo, the defence minister and a former general who has twice campaigned for the presidency, ahead of former Central Java Governor Ganjar and Anies, the former governor of Jakarta.