Ex-general accused of abuse of rights is declared winner of Indonesia’s elections
The news
A feared former general won Indonesia’s presidential election last month, according to official results released on Wednesday that confirmed unofficial forecasts.
That candidate, Prabowo Subianto, who is now Indonesia’s defense minister, received 58.6 percent of the vote. according to the final count by the General Election Commission.
The result means that Mr Prabowo, who was on a visa blacklist by the United States for about 20 years over human rights abuses, won the election outright and avoided a runoff with the second candidate.
Although the official count is over, the process of officially declaring Mr Prabowo president-elect could be a lengthy one. His opponents – Anies Baswedan, who received 24.9 percent of the vote, and Ganjar Pranowo, who received 16.5 percent – have said they plan to challenge the result.
They accuse the outgoing president, Joko Widodo, of improperly influencing the election and claim widespread irregularities occurred during the February 14 election. They provided no evidence of election day impropriety, but said they did have evidence to prove their claims in court.
Mr. Prabowo’s representatives reject these claims, noting that almost every poll before the election showed him as the frontrunner.
Why it matters
For many observers and critics, the elections have tarnished Indonesia’s hard-won reputation as a vibrant democracy.
At the heart of their dissatisfaction are Mr Joko’s actions before the election and the way he used state resources to support Mr Prabowo, whom he defeated in the previous two elections. Mr. Joko exerted his influence, they say, on a court that changed a law allowing his son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, to run as Mr. Prabowo’s running mate. Then, they say, Mr. Joko violated norms by campaigning for the duo and ordering social benefits that helped their candidacy.
“There was no level playing field, which is fundamental to elections,” said Rohana Hettiarachchi, president of the Asian Network for Free Elections, an alliance of independent election watchdogs.
Mr Joko has denied the allegations of wrongdoing and said presidents are allowed to campaign and take sides as long as they do not use state facilities. When he made these comments, Mr Prabowo was at his side.
Mr. Prabowo’s record has long upset many in the country. He was dismissed from the army after being found responsible for the kidnapping of student activists; he has questioned the need for democracy; and he is known for his violent temper and erratic behavior. During the campaign, Mr Prabowo emphasized his commitment to democracy.
What’s next
Legal experts say Mr Ganjar and Mr Anies are unlikely to have any success in court if they go ahead with their plan to seek legal intervention. The Constitutional Court, which hears such cases, has never ruled in favor of claimants challenging election results. For example, it rejected Mr Prabowo’s claims in 2019, when he lost the election to Mr Joko.
Barring any legal setbacks, Mr Prabowo is expected to be formally declared president-elect in the coming weeks. He will take office after Mr Joko’s term ends in October.