President Joko Widodo calls for capable successor as Indonesia election looms
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Indonesian President Joko Widodo is stepping down in October 2024 after serving his second and final term.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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JAKARTA – Indonesia’s next leader must continue existing policies so that the country can achieve its vision of reaching high-income status by 2045, President Joko Widodo said in his annual State of the Nation Address on Wednesday.
“This is not about who the president is… The question is whether the future leaders are ready to continue what we have started today, and whether they are brave and consistent enough,” Mr Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, said in his morning speech.
South-east Asia’s largest economy must continue its downstreaming policy to push its gross domestic product per capita to US$10,900 (S$14,800) in a decade and US$25,000 by 2045, exactly a century since its independence.
With that in mind, Mr Widodo proposed a budget of 3,304.1 trillion rupiah (S$293 billion) for 2024, his final year in office, promising to guard the economy against global challenges and keep food prices stable.
The budget proposal, tabled in Parliament, is about 6 per cent larger than the 2023 spending plan, which has been revised up to 3,123.7 trillion rupiah.
It assumes 5.2 per cent economic growth in 2024, below 2023’s target of 5.3 per cent.
“The 2024 state budget architecture must be able to respond to economic dynamics, address challenges and optimally support the development and welfare agenda,” Mr Widodo said in his annual budget speech to Parliament.
He offered no specific fiscal policy for 2024, but underscored the importance of food and energy security and building a competitive defence industry.
He proposed allotting 108.8 trillion rupiah for food security to maintain stable prices, increase farm output and further develop the government’s ongoing food estate programme.
Infrastructure was allotted 422.7 trillion rupiah, including for Mr Widodo’s flagship project to build a new capital city on Borneo island, called Nusantara.
He had previously set a target to move some government offices to Nusantara from Jakarta in 2024.
Mr Widodo’s election-focused speech earlier in the day came as simultaneous presidential, legislative and gubernatorial polls are scheduled for Feb 14.
In the speech, he dismissed allegations that he is attempting to influence the presidential election so that his successor can continue his policies and safeguard his political dynasty.
Preferred successor
Three politicians have announced their plans to join the presidential race: former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan, Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo and Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, who lost to Mr Widodo in the last two elections.
Mr Ganjar was initially seen as Mr Widodo’s preferred successor, but the momentum may be shifting towards Mr Prabowo, who has been topping voter surveys.
The defence minister’s clout is also growing, given his closer-than-ever ties with Mr Widodo, as well as increasing support from other political parties.
Mr Widodo’s address was laden with his expectations for his successor, calling on Indonesia’s next leader to tap a “demographic bonus” where 68 per cent of the population is productive. That beneficial structure is set to peak in 2030, he said.
“We are not having a leisurely walk here, and we are not having a sprint either,” Mr Widodo said of the path that Indonesia’s leaders must take to elevate the nation and the economy.
“What we are doing is a marathon to reach Golden Indonesia.” BLOOMBERG, REUTERS
