JAKARTA, Oct 20 — Indonesia’s Prabowo Subianto took over as president of the world’s third-largest democracy today after sweeping the country’s election with policies like free meals for school children and with the outgoing leader’s son as his running mate.
The 73-year-old former special forces commander won the February 14 contest with nearly 60 per cent of the vote and has spent the past nine months building a formidable Parliamentary coalition.
Prabowo, wearing a traditional black hat and navy suit with a woven maroon and golden sarong, officially became Indonesia’s eighth president today morning after he was sworn in during a ceremony at Indonesia’s Parliament.
Prabowo, who unsuccessfully ran for the presidency twice before, is expected to give a speech to lawmakers at the Parliament’s upper house and then head to the presidential palace.
He was joined in the swearing-in ceremony by his running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, 37, the eldest son of outgoing President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
As they make their way to the palace they will be greeted by thousands of flag-waving supporters already thronging Jakarta streets that are lined with posters of the incoming leader.
Flower boards set up outside the palace either congratulated Prabowo and Gibran or thanked Jokowi for his decade as president.
The two are expected to stop at seven stages along the way between parliament and the palace, according to Prabowo aide Nusron Wahid to the press on Friday (October 18).
Jokowi supporters are also attending the celebrations to bid farewell to Indonesia’s outgoing leader.
Bystander Anneta Yuniar, who had excitedly waved at Jokowi’s motorcade as it slowly made its way past supporters before the ceremony, said she would miss Jokowi but that Prabowo was a strong leader.
“Prabowo will continue the development that Jokowi started. There’s continuity. It is what I want,” she said.
Jokowi has left an indelible mark on the nation of 280 million, presiding over strong economic growth and massive infrastructure development.
Yet critics have said that his rule has been marked by a rise in old-time patronage and dynastic politics, and they warn about diminished integrity in courts and other state institutions.
Indonesian police and military have put in place strict security measures, deploying at least 100,000 personnel across the city, including snipers and anti-riot units.
Prabowo is expected to meet with foreign dignitaries, including about 20 heads of state, later today at the Presidential Palace, said the presidential communications organisation’s head Hasan Nasbi.
China said it is sending Vice President Han Zheng to the inauguration. The delegation from the United States is being led by United States Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
During his campaign, Prabowo billed himself to voters and investors alike as the “continuity candidate”.
He has set a target to accelerate economic growth to eight per cent from a current rate of five per cent, pledged to make Indonesia self-sufficient in the production of staple foods, and signalled a more active role on the global stage.
But past allegations against Prabowo of involvement in the kidnapping of student activists and human rights abuses in Papua and East Timor have also raised concern about Indonesia’s trajectory of democracy, said human rights advocates.
Prabowo has always denied the allegations that led to his dismissal from the military in 1998, the same year Indonesia broke free from the decades-long authoritarian rule of former president Suharto.
— Reuters
