JAKARTA - Observers note a slight decline in the performance of presidential candidates Anies Baswedan, Prabowo Subianto, and Ganjar Pranowo during the latest Presidential Debate held on Feb 4.
Lingkar Madani Executive Director, Ray Rangkuti noted that while Anies seemed fatigued compared to his earlier assertive stance, Prabowo's clarity was lacking, while Ganjar remained consistent.
"Anies appeared fatigued, less aggressive compared to his previous debates, resulting in a lack of dynamism among the candidates.
"His presentation, performance, and style suffered," he said in an interview with Awani.
On Prabowo, Ray observed a lack of clarity in his stance regarding the continuation of President Jokowi's (Joko Widodo) programmes, contrasting with Ganjar's consistency in advocating for the continuation of certain policies with improvements.
"Ganjar focused on highlighting his achievements in Central Java, highlighting the 'Rekam Jejak' (Track Record) to showcase successful programme implementations.
"Prabowo mainly highlighted continuing Jokowi's legacy, but specifics were lacking," he added.
Ray also pointed out a decrease in voter interaction and attention to the election post the 5th Presidential Debate, as indicated by surveys and social media reviews conducted by Indonesia Indicator.
With nearly 205 million voters domestically and internationally, Indonesian voters will cast their votes on Feb 14, determining the future leadership.
Over 20,000 seats are contested across various levels in Indonesia's legislative elections, encompassing national, provincial, and regency levels. - AWANI