Indonesia kicks off election season as candidates sign up for presidential race

Ganjar Pranowo, presidential candidate of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDI-P), holds hands with his running mate, Mohammad Mahfud Mahmodin, chief security minister, known as Mahfud MD, as they pose for photographs during their declaration in Jakarta, Indonesia, October 18, 2023, in this photo taken by Antara Foto. Antara Foto/M Risyal Hidayat/ via REUTER

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Registration gets underway in Indonesia on Thursday for candidates vying to succeed President Joko Widodo after nearly a decade in power, as election season kicks off in earnest in the world's third-largest democracy.

Nearly 205 million of Indonesia's more than 270 million people will in February get to choose who will lead a resource-rich country with an economy of more than $1 trillion, and take on an ambitious drive to boost foreign investment, develop downstream industries and transition away from fossil fuel reliance.