Indonesia elects ex-military man as president
JAKARTA – Indonesia’s defence minister Prabowo Subianto is on course to become the country’s next president after early results showed him winning more than half of votes cast in the first round.
“This victory is victory for all Indonesians,” he told cheering supporters, hours after polls closed.
Early polling samples showed the feared former general winning more than 57% of votes, avoiding a second round run-off.
Full results in the world’s largest single-day vote are not due for weeks.
But Indonesia’s stateapproved polling samples - socalled “quick counts” performed within hours of voting - have been relatively accurate in previous years.
Prabowo, 72, is a polarising figure whose popularity has prompted fears that Indonesia is in danger of sliding back towards its authoritarian past. A former special forces commander under the dictator General Suharto, and his sonin-law, he has been dogged by allegations of human rights abuses.
He was greeted by crowds of cheering supporters at an indoor arena in Jakarta shortly after polls closed - and cautioned jubilant supporters not to be arrogant.
“Even though we should be grateful, we must not be arrogant, not euphoric, remain humble; this victory must be a victory for all the people of Indonesia,” said Mr Prabowo, who heads the Advanced Indonesia Coalition.
He also mentioned the names of former presidents, including a note of gratitude to outgoing President Joko Widodo whose policies he has promised to continue.
He ran unsuccessfully against Widodo, who remains hugely popular, in the last two elections. However, the man known as “Jokowi” must now stand down after two five-year terms.