Indonesia’s presidential hopefuls Anies, Ganjar register as candidates, leaving frontrunner Prabowo on back foot

“Prabowo’s coalition is not like Ganjar’s where one party is much bigger than the others and can basically do whatever it wants to do,” Mr Saidiman Ahmad, a researcher from think-tank Saiful Mujani Research Centre, told CNA.

“Prabowo has to make sure his coalition partners are happy with his pick, particularly if he wants to nominate a running mate who is not a cadre of one of the parties supporting him.”

Of the names floated as potential nominees, only economics minister Mr Hartarto, who is also the chairman of Golkar, is a member of one of Mr Subianto’s coalition partners.

Mr Thohir is an independent technocrat, Mdm Parawansa is a member of the National Awakening Party (PKB) while Mr Rakabuming is a member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

PKB is supporting Mr Baswedan while PDI-P is nominating Mr Pranowo.

Mr Djayadi Hanan, executive director of think-tank Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI), said announcing his running mate so late in the game may be beneficial for Mr Subianto.

“Prabowo should be able to strategise better now that his rivals Anies and Ganjar have laid all the cards on the table in terms of who their running mates are, as well as their strengths, their weaknesses,” Mr Hanan told CNA.

“He can either make a safe bet and choose an experienced technocrat to rival Mahfud or make a surprise move and appeal to an entirely different demographic. He needs to think carefully, who will help him win the election and whether this person can be accepted by his coalition partners.”