JAKARTA:Indonesia’s defence minister, a feared former general who was removed from the army after he was found responsible for the kidnapping of political dissidents, appeared to be on track to win the presidential election outright on Wednesday, casting doubts on the future of one of the world’s most vibrant democracies.
The candidate, Prabowo Subianto, had a commanding lead in the three-way race for president, with more than 58% of the vote, according to unofficial tallies that have a history of accurately predicting the final results. The two other presidential candidates said it was too early to declare a winner.
If the projections are confirmed, Indonesia – the world’s third-largest democracy – will be left contending with a president who has said that the country needs neither elections nor democracy, who was barred from entering the US for two decades because of his human rights record and who was long associated with Indonesia’s former dictator, Suharto. Prabowo served as a special forces commander in a unit linked to torture and disappearances, allegations that he vehemently denies. The era of liberty that followed the ouster of Suharto, critics say, could now be under threat with Prabowo’s ascent to power.
On Wednesday night, supporters of Prabowo chanted his name as he gave his victory speech in the capital, Jakarta. “This victory must be a victory for all the Indonesian people,” he said. The election in Indonesia matters far beyond its borders. The world’s fourth-most-populous country, it is of growing strategic importance to both the US and China. Indonesia is one of the world’s top producers of coal, palm oil and nickel, and it sits atop the supply chains of many global companies.
Crucially, Prabowo has the tacit backing of the wildly popular incumbent Joko Widodo, who is betting on his former rival as a continuity candidate to preserve his legacy, including the inclusion of his 36-year-old son Gibran on the ticket.
The candidate, Prabowo Subianto, had a commanding lead in the three-way race for president, with more than 58% of the vote, according to unofficial tallies that have a history of accurately predicting the final results. The two other presidential candidates said it was too early to declare a winner.
If the projections are confirmed, Indonesia – the world’s third-largest democracy – will be left contending with a president who has said that the country needs neither elections nor democracy, who was barred from entering the US for two decades because of his human rights record and who was long associated with Indonesia’s former dictator, Suharto. Prabowo served as a special forces commander in a unit linked to torture and disappearances, allegations that he vehemently denies. The era of liberty that followed the ouster of Suharto, critics say, could now be under threat with Prabowo’s ascent to power.
On Wednesday night, supporters of Prabowo chanted his name as he gave his victory speech in the capital, Jakarta. “This victory must be a victory for all the Indonesian people,” he said. The election in Indonesia matters far beyond its borders. The world’s fourth-most-populous country, it is of growing strategic importance to both the US and China. Indonesia is one of the world’s top producers of coal, palm oil and nickel, and it sits atop the supply chains of many global companies.
Crucially, Prabowo has the tacit backing of the wildly popular incumbent Joko Widodo, who is betting on his former rival as a continuity candidate to preserve his legacy, including the inclusion of his 36-year-old son Gibran on the ticket.