SBY plays it safe in election campaign
Updated
With less than a month left until Indonesia's presidential elections, the candidates have been hitting the campaign trail.
And with a massive lead in the opinion polls, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his campaign team have been taking a conservative approach. The president's campaign is tightly controlled, with few spontaneous moments, although sometimes Indonesia's notoriously cautious leader does let loose.
Presenter: Gavin Fang
Speakers: Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Indonesian president; indonesia voters
indonesia, elections, government and politics
FANG: After a long day on the campaign trail indonesia's president unwinds with a few favourite tunes. This is a rare glimpse of the song loving leader freed from the protocols of office. And for a few minutes you can see another side to this former general who indonesians have fallen for. The sprawling city of Bandar Lampung in southern Sumatra had been the president's campaign stop for the day. As the billboards suggest this is enemy territory - the party of presidential challenger megawati sukarnoputri hold the locals governors seat. So at the city's sports stadium where the President was due to speak the campaign was taking no chances. Three thousand handpicked party members made up the audience ready to shout their support for their candidate's pitch.
VOXPOP: I think that SBY is the right person for this era. He is very democratic even though he has a military background. And it was the right time when he entered politics.
FANG: There's a distinctly US presidential feel about the yudhoyono campaign. Right down to the red, white and blue bunting adorning the stadium. Rather than a rally to win new support, this event was more a celebration of the president's achievements. On stage former Indonesian idol winners warmed up the audience as they waited for the country's political idol to appear. After five years in the job, Indonesia's president isn't offering voters many new policies. The campaign theme is progress, which means more of the same stability the country's first directly elected leader has brought.
SBY: We want to enforce clean government, that works for the people, we want to bring democracy to life.. polite democracy that brings benefit to society, we want the law to be enforced eliminating crimes, including corruption and nepotism, and we want development for all people in indonesia. If people ask SBY what is my vision and mission, those will be it.
FANG: A well worn criticism of the President is that he's too cautious. And in this campaign he's doing little to change that image, perhaps because his steady reputation is a vote winner. The President's stump speech focuses on what he's done as much as what a second yudhoyono term will do.
SBY: We have many achievements. Is that right? Stability in politics, right. Elimination of corruption. Right. The economy is growing, right. Indonesia is being appreciated more in the world. Right. And we want that to continue.
FANG: With his set piece speech completed it was time for question, but in this crowd there was little chance of an ambush. While the organisers insisted the questioners were random, they seemed a little too convenient. One by one the President fielded queries about whether his policies, the questioners described as succesful , would continue. But later the President's spokesman rejected the suggestion that he's being shielded from critics. The campaign stopped for lunch at a nearby restaurant and this time there was a chance to meet some unscripted voters. Outside a crowd gathered as the guest of honour dined behind closed doors. President Yudhoyono's popularity is built in part on his cash handouts for indonesia's 30 million poor. And these voters are sticking with their incumbent leader.
VOXPOP: I am very happy with that SBY is visiting Lampung. My heart is for SBY because he is a good leader for Indonesia.
VOX POP: I think he is a good leader, the job opportunities have increased and our lives are getting better.
FANG: As the president emerged from lunch the crowded gathered inside, the excitment etched on their faces as he they shook his hand. Indonesia's leader seemed to be enjoying himself.. although he wasn't saying. His son though was slightly more forthcoming. The critics say the President and his campaign are boring. But with poll numbers giving him a huge lead its probably no surprise that Indonesia's leader isn't taking too many chances. With another term in office beckoning, it's no wonder he feels like singing.
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