Indonesia's Prabowo Subianto has been elected president of the world's third-largest democracy, defeating two rivals who vowed to file legal charges over the vote, the electoral commission said Wednesday.
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Zealous defense minister and vice-presidential candidate Gibran Rakabumin Raka, the eldest son of outgoing leader Joko Widodo, had already declared victory last month after winning an unofficial majority.
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He was officially confirmed as the winner on Wednesday after receiving more than 96 million votes, approximately 58.6 percent of the total, and securing a majority in the first round, according to committee chairman Hashim Ashiari. says that's enough.
“This decision takes effect immediately on March 20,” Asiari said.
Anis Baswedan secured 24.9% of the vote, while Ganjal Pranowo received more than 16%.
More than 164 million Indonesians voted, representing a turnout of about 80% of eligible voters.
Prabowo, 72, was widely expected to win the presidency on his third try. He will take up his post in October after a transition period.
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Prabowo spoke outside his home in the capital Jakarta to thunderous applause from his supporters, thanking the Indonesian people and his party for helping him reach the country's top job.
“We are grateful to Almighty God for the official announcement of the election results from the KPU,” he said of the election commission.
“I would like to express my gratitude to all Indonesians who exercised their right to vote.”
Experts say his popularity has soared due to his nationalistic zeal in populist speeches, his strongman credentials as defense minister and support from Widodo, widely known as Jokowi.
Prabowo also expressed gratitude to his former rival Jokowi, whom he defeated in two elections in 2014 and 2019.
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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken immediately offered Prabowo's “deepest congratulations” and said the U.S. government “looks forward to working closely” with the former general, who was once on the U.S. visa blacklist. Stated.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also offered his congratulations and said in a statement that he looked forward to “further deepening our strategic partnership” on issues such as climate change.
Mr. Prabowo's rivals, former Jakarta governor Anies and former Central Java governor Ganjar, have vowed to file a complaint with the Constitutional Court alleging election fraud and irregularities.
After the results were announced, Anis admitted to filing a complaint in court.
“Leaders who emerge from a process tainted with fraud and violation will produce regimes that produce policies riddled with inequity, and we do not want that to happen,” he said in a statement. No,” he said.
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However, local media reported on Tuesday that Prabowo's legal team is confident that he won by such a wide margin that he cannot challenge the result.
Indonesia held one of the world's largest one-day elections last month, with hundreds of thousands of candidates vying for president, parliamentary seats and local council positions.
After unsuccessfully running as vice-presidential candidate in 2009 and presidential candidate in 2014 and 2019, Prabowo won this time with support from Jokowi.
The election campaign was disrupted by accusations of ethics violations and interference by Mr. Jokowi, who critics claimed had plotted to establish a political dynasty through his son before leaving office.
“Jokowi is the X factor that had a big impact on Prabowo's victory,” said Firman Noor, a political science professor at the National Agency for Research and Innovation.
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Experts say Mr Prabowo is trying to curry favor with the outgoing leader as he seeks to maintain influence under the new government by appointing him an honorary four-star general.
Indonesia's president-elect also overcame suspicions from human rights groups and former bosses that he was involved in the disappearance of student activists in the late 1990s, during the final days of dictator Suharto's regime.
From 1997 to 1998, when the kidnappings occurred, Mr. Subianto led an elite unit known as Kopassus, which Jakarta used in special operations aimed at quelling domestic unrest. More than a dozen activists were never found.
He was discharged from the military over the kidnapping incident, but denies direct responsibility, and the latest charges appear to have little impact on his election hopes.
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Prabowo will inherit Southeast Asia's largest economy, which is growing at about 5% a year.
Mr Prabowo's pledge to continue Jokowi's resource nationalism, which seeks to turn Indonesia into a global nickel powerhouse, has given voters optimism about the economy.
Others are less certain about the safety of the country's young democracy.
“I see the future of democracy becoming even bleaker during Mr. Prabowo's era,'' said Hurriya, director of the Center for Political Research at the University of Indonesia.
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This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to the text.
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