Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto has claimed victory in Indonesia’s presidential election based on unofficial figures. Indonesia is the third largest democracy in the world. There are more than 20 crore registered voters here. Presidential elections are being held there for the sixth time after coming out of the era of military dictatorship in 1990. After voting on 14th February, counting of votes is going on.
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Based on the unofficial results of Indonesia’s presidential election, Prabowo Subianto is said to be the frontrunner to become the president. Subianto was a military commander during Suharto’s tenure and is currently the Defense Minister of Indonesia. Two former governors Aniz Baswedan and Ganjar Pronovo are in the fray in front of him. Current President Jokowi has also thrown his weight behind Subianto. Because Jokowi’s eldest son Gibran Rakabuming is trying to become the Vice-President along with Raka Subianto. Subianto not only has its own support base in Indonesia, but also President Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi. He himself has been a popular President and has completed two terms in 2014 and 2019. Due to constitutional obligation, he cannot contest elections for the third time, there is every possibility of Subianto’s victory due to the immense support he is getting from them.
There is talk of Subianto and Gibran getting 53 percent votes.
Subianto’s victory is also linked to his son Gibran’s victory. In all the opinion polls conducted before the elections, the victory of Subianto and Gibran was declared certain. In the first round of elections, both of them were projected to win with 55 to 59 percent vote share. The city of Surakarta is considered a stronghold of Ganjar Pronovo’s party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle. Based on the initial results of vote counting there, Subianto and Gibran of Advance Indonesian Coalition are said to get 53 percent of the votes. That means he is getting defeated by Subianto and Jibran in Pronovo’s stronghold itself.
Accused of kidnapping and torturing people
It is also suspected that current President Joko Widodo wants to retain power through his son Gibran, since Subianto has been a military commander. During the tenure of Suharto, who was notorious for taking harsh measures against his opposition leaders, from 1990 to 1998, Subianto and his unit were accused of kidnapping and torturing dozens of people who were fighting for democratic values. He was acquitted of these charges and went into voluntary exile in Jordan in 2000, returning several years later.
Subianto was also accused of atrocities in East Timor, which later gained independence from Indonesia. Suharto’s second term ended prematurely and Subianto is considered responsible for this too. He is the owner of immense wealth and President Jokowi included him in his cabinet as Defense Minister and now he is going to win the presidential election. In such a situation, there is a danger that the era of dictatorship will start again in Indonesia. However, before the elections, Subianto has tried his best to appear soft in his stance.
Most voters favor continuing President Jokowi’s policies, including moving Indonesia’s capital from Jakarta to the island of Borneo. Employment is a big issue in Indonesia. The duo of Subianto and Gibran have promised employment of Rs 1.5 crore and easy loans to buy houses. Young voters have liked it very much and it is also believed that it will have a big contribution in Subianto’s victory.
