Indonesia's Prabowo Attends ASEAN Meeting as Gerindra Party Takes On Regional Elections

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto attended a meeting with ASEAN ministers today as his political party takes to the 2020 Simultaneous Regional Elections.

Although Indonesians cast their votes to elect the new batch of regional leaders across the archipelago, the Chairman of the Gerindra Party instead joined a virtual event for the 14th ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting.

Prabowo’s spokesperson Dahnil Anzar Simanjutak said that the Defense Minister does not have a schedule to monitor today’s election.

Read also: State Palace: Indonesia Ready for Regional Elections Tomorrow

Dahnil added that Prabowo remained in his office at the Ministry of Defense building for a whole day while also attending the ministry’s internal meetings.

According to a Gerindra politician, Andre Rosiade, the political party is aiming for a victory of up to 70 percent in the 2020 Simultaneous Regional Elections.

Andre added that the party nominated candidates in nearly 80 percent of the regions holding an election on December 9.

Read also: Indonesian Workers Get Time Off to Vote on Dec. 9, Says Manpower Minister

In the city of South Tangerang, the party’s candidates include Muhamad and Rahayu Saraswati (Sara). The latter is Prabowo’s niece and his political party’s Deputy Chairman.

In the city of Medan, the party’s nominee is Aulia Rahman who has partnered with President Joko Widodo’s son-in-law, Bobby Afif Nasution.