Ex-General Accused of Rights Abuses Wins Indonesia Election
The official result confirmed projections made after last month’s vote, which raised concerns about the vibrancy of the country’s democracy.
The official result confirmed projections made after last month’s vote, which raised concerns about the vibrancy of the country’s democracy.
Prabowo Subianto has had many identities over the years: a commander under sanctions for rights abuses, a violent nationalist and, now, the candidate of continuity.
Today’s vote is seen as a referendum on President Joko Widodo, who focused on economic growth but eventually curtailed liberties, critics say.
The celebration of the act of casting a vote has particular resonance in Indonesia, which until a few decades ago was a brutal dictatorship.
More than 100 million people are expected to vote. The country is a vibrant democracy, but some fear it risks sliding back toward a dark past.
Although he dons different personas, the strongman bona fides of Prabowo Subianto date back to when Indonesia was a dictatorship ruled by his former father-in-law.