KUALA LUMPUR – Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto claimed victory tonight after polling over 58% of votes in unofficial results based on quick count surveys of the republic’s general election results today.
In a victory speech at the Istora Sports Stadium in Jakarta, Prabowo, with running-mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka alongside him, promised to be a president for all Indonesians, the Jakarta Globe reports.
“We will serve as the president and vice-president for all Indonesian people. I have repeatedly said that I will protect all citizens, regardless of their ethnicity, religion or social background. It is our responsibility to work for the best interests of the Indonesian people,” he was quoted saying.
Prabowo, who is currently defence minister, also said that while Indonesia’s election commission will only release official results next month, he was already “confident that the democratic process in Indonesia is being implemented properly”.
“It’s the people who decide their desired leaders,” he said.
Quick counts by different survey agencies have placed Prabowo and Gibran with over 58% of votes cast.
Their closest rivals are former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan and senior politician Muhaimin Iskandar, whom survey agencies placed with over 24% of votes.
Trailing in third and last place are former Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo and his running mate, law and security minister Mahfud MD, who have gathered 16.7% of votes as of press time.
Prabowo, 72, is competing for the third time for the post of president. He lost in 2014 and 2019 to Joko Widodo, better known as Jokowi.
Not without controversy, the former army general has been accused of human rights abuses in the past against pro-democracy activists in the 1990s, and in the far-flung Indonesian regions of Papua and the former East Timor. He has denied such allegations.
Also controversially, Prabowo’s running mate, Gibran, is Jokowi’s eldest son, who was allowed to run for vice-president at the age of 36, despite not meeting the age limit of 40.
With previous experience as mayor of Surakarta, Gibran became eligible after Indonesia’s constitutional court made an exception for those who served or have been elected as regional leaders – a decision made by a court panel led by Chief Justice Anwar Usman, who is his uncle.
The official results of the election is expected to be announced next month given the 35-day vote-counting process as set by Indonesia’s election law.
More than 200 million people were eligible to participate in this election which was also held for lawmakers at the parliamentary, provincial, city and regency levels. – February 14, 2024