Indonesia elected a new president and parliament on Wednesday. About 205 million people had the right to vote in the world’s fourth most populous country. The 72-year-old former general Prabowo Subianto was considered the overwhelming favorite to succeed President Joko Widodo. He is clearly leading the way.
Preliminary results are expected by tonight local time. The official results will not be announced until the end of March. The incumbent head of state, known as Jokowi, is barred from running again after two terms in office.
Favorit faced serious accusations
However, Prabowo is not considered undisputed. He is accused of human rights violations during the reign of former dictator Suharto (1966-1998), who was also his father-in-law.
Acting as a loving grandfather
In particular, the former officer, as a member of an elite unit, is believed to have been involved in the kidnapping and torture of more than twenty dissident activists in 1998. The whereabouts of about a dozen of those abducted are still unknown. Prabowo rejects the accusations. However, the events of the past have not affected the popularity of the favorite, who presents himself on social media as a sweet grandfather.
Three candidates were eligible
Central Java province governor Ganjar Pranowo (55) and former Jakarta governor and ex-Minister of Education Anies Baswedan (54) faced off against Prabowo (72), who is running for office for the third time for the presidency. All three represent a continuation of the successful economic development policies of the Jokowi era.
Source: Krone
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