‘Jokowi still wants action’: Indonesia’s state elections a test of ex-president’s clout

“It shows that Jokowi still wants to be a part of the political action, and this will be real test, because the results [of the regional elections in Jakarta and Central Java] will likely be interpreted in part as a reflection of whether he still commands influence or not,” said Ian Wilson, Indonesian politics researcher at Australia’s Murdoch University.

Regional head elections will be held simultaneously on November 27, which will take place in 415 regencies, 93 cities and 37 provinces, including Jakarta and Central Java.

In Jakarta, Jokowi, as the former president is widely known, threw his support behind gubernatorial candidate Ridwan Kamil and his running mate Suswono, while in Central Java, he endorsed duo Ahmad Luthfi and Taj Yasin.