With over half of Indonesia’s electorate under the age of 40, the country’s love of football is attracting politicians looking for popularity, profile and votes.
Voting in Indonesia’s presidential election starts on February 14, and while the main issues are the economy, living standards and moving the capital from Jakarta to the island of Borneo, none of the three candidates can ignore the country’s national sport.
Anies Baswedan, Prabowo Subianto and Ganjar Pranowo know that when every vote counts, it’s wise to stay onside with football fans. With 52% of the country’s population of 270 million between the ages of 18 and 39, the sport is seen as an effective way to communicate with a huge part of the electorate.
“Football is an easy way for politicians to connect with young people,” Dex Glenniza, head of content at Indonesia’s largest podcast network Box2Box, told DW. “Many people take advantage of the power of Indonesian football.”
According to Usman Hamid, executive director of Amnesty International Indonesia, this special relationship has been ongoing ever since the country’s independence from the Netherlands in 1945. “Politicians recognize the potential of associating themselves with a sport that resonates deeply with the public,” Hamid told DW.