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Indonesian presidential campaign heats up with first debate

FILE - In this Sept. 23, 2018 file photo, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, left, and his contender Prabowo Subianto share a light moment during a ceremony marking the kick off of the campaign period for next year's election in Jakarta, Indonesia. Echoing the campaign tactics of Donald Trump, former Indonesian Gen. Prabowo Subianto says his country, the world's third-largest democracy, is in dire shape and he is the leader who will restore it to greatness. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana, File)

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Echoing the campaign tactics of Donald Trump, former Indonesian Gen. Prabowo Subianto says his country, the world’s third-largest democracy, is in dire shape and he is the leader who will restore it to greatness.

Subianto, running for president a second time in the April 17 elections, faces a major campaign test Thursday when he and his running mate, millionaire businessman Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, debate President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and his vice-presidential pick in the first of five debates.

The general’s message might appear to be lifted from Trump’s playbook of angry populism but Subianto has been at it far longer. He lost narrowly to Widodo in 2014, a result he angrily refused to accept, and was a losing vice-presidential candidate in 2004.

Opinion polls show Widodo leading.

The Associated Press