Indonesia on 23 September kicked off campaigning for Indonesia's presidential election, scheduled for April 2019.

President Joko Widodo (second from left) (Source: AP)

Analysts forecast this will be a race between incumbent President Joko Widodo and former military general Prabowo Subianto.

Dressed in traditional clothing, the candidates and their running mates paraded through central Jakarta on September 23 and released doves at a ceremony after reading out a peaceful campaign declaration. They vowed a peaceful and transparent race.

The campaigning will focus on several burning issues such as economic affairs, inequality and characterized politics.

Last month, President Widodo decided to choose Ma’ruf Amin, head of the Ulema Council, as his running mate in the presidential election campaign.

Surveys show that Widodo holds many advantages compared to his rival Prabowo, who lost to him in the 2014 presidential election.

As many as 186 million voters are expected to cast their ballots at the general election, slated for April 17, 2019, to elect the President, members of the Parliament and local councils.

(Source: VNA)