Indonesian Election: The Debate of the Vice Presidents

After criticized for the “too friendly” format of the presidential debate, the Indonesian Vice President debate format was slightly changed, although it was not the format that gave a little bit of colour (from dull to slight tone) but the candidates were all colourful.

Boediono, Prabowo and Wiranto

What I meant by colourful is, of course, more colourful than the Presidential Candidate debate.  At least, I find it more interesting than the Presidential Candidate.  What I can pull out from watching the debate was the different characters of the three candidates:  Prabowo was agressive, Boediono was calm, Wiranto was trying make things less serious by making a little joke.

Prabowo was very clear in his message: money talks.  He was also clear in saying that if you want change, vote for me.  If you want to stay put, don’t vote for me.

As an ex Kopassus (elite army) general, Prabowo was firm.  But I found him ‘choke’ a little bit when asked about desintegration and the relationship between religion and the state.  He kept saying “systemic dysfunction” but I did not see him spread out what he will do to make it function.

Boediono, the ex Bank Indonesia governor was calm, careful, and managed to pull himself out well.  I was impressed by his calmness standing in between the ex generals.  He managed to also answer the questions with bullet points and he seems like a person who will look at things from every different angle, judging from the way he responds to the questions.   He might be just too careful.  He seems like a ‘nurturing’ person, could be too patient or slow.

Wiranto, on the other hand, was similar to Prabowo but not as agressive.  It seems that these ex-generals share the same character, but Wiranto is much more subtle.  At some point he was trying humour, but he came up with  suggestions such as interracial marrage and transmigration.  Has he any idea that transmigration program failed big time during the Soeharto era?

The way I see these candidates are how will they replace the president if something happen?  For Prabowo, I am a bit worried.   He is definitely stronger and smarter than Megawati and I think he might already have a plan on how to pull her down.   My worry is, this is the guy who is smart but also capable of using iron hands.  He was in Timor, he was also involved in the 1998 riot, he was across Soeharto and dare to be that way, this dude is something.  I wouldn’t be surprised if he plans to replace Megawati before her time.  Then, the country will be instable, then people will still not be fed.

Can Boediono fill in SBY’s shoes?  I think the synergy between the two would be good, knowing both of them are relatively clean and has good credibilty, but if he should be the president, will be strong enough?  Firm enough to take care of these so-called Indonesian?  Or will he be like BJ. Habibie?

Wiranto seems to have a never ending energy to be the president of Republik Indonesia.  I don’t think he is sharp enough and I am not a Golkar fan.  That Lapindo thing will never be solved if those two win (Lapindo, owned by Aburizal Bakrie, who is a Golkar person).  With the Golkar track record, I wouldn’t bet this country to someone who was a Golkar before.  Too many hidden agendas!  As for him to exchange JK, he will have a different approach but I am still not clear on where he stands; maybe he is a ‘flexible’ person.

Lets see if there will be more debates and I am looking forward to a more spicy debate!