SINGAPORE - Indonesian President Joko Widodo found himself trapped between a rock and a hard place when he had to decide whether to hold a regional election in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
For months, critics pressured him to delay the Sept 23 polls, known as pilkada, to elect 270 governors, regents and mayors across the country. He acceded once, pushing the date to Wednesday (Dec 9).
Already a subscriber? Log in
Dive deeper at $0.99/month
Want more exclusives, sharp insights into what's happening at home and abroad? Subscribe to stay informed.
ST One Digital Package - Monthly
$9.90 $0.99/month
No contract
$0.99/month for the first 3 months, $9.90/month thereafter. T&Cs apply.
Unlock these benefits
All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com
Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device
2-week e-paper archive so you never miss out on any topic that matters to you