20-2-2024 (JAKARTA) Two candidates who were unsuccessful in the recent Indonesian presidential election have called on parliament to investigate complaints of irregularities leading up to the event.
This call comes despite independent observers stating that there were no indications of widespread fraud in the world’s largest single-day election, apart from minor issues such as outdated electoral rolls or polling delays.
While the official results are not expected until March 20, unofficial vote counts indicate that Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto secured victory in a single round of voting, with approximately 58% of the votes.
His rivals, Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo, are projected to have received 25% and 17% of the votes, respectively, according to a preliminary count by election authorities, which aligns with the unofficial tallies.
However, both losing camps have voiced complaints of voter intimidation, manipulation of state institutions, and misuse of state resources, including welfare funds, during the campaign period, without presenting any evidence to support their claims.
On Monday, Ganjar called for an inquiry when parliament reconvenes on March 5, stating, “Something like this must be investigated. At the very least, parliament should hold a hearing.” Anies, a former governor of Jakarta, expressed on Tuesday that his camp is “ready to participate” in a parliamentary inquiry that allows lawmakers to examine government actions, referring to it as a positive initiative.
Anies, who is not affiliated with any political party, has the backing of three parties, while Ganjar is supported by two, including the largest party in parliament, PDI-P.
Outgoing President Joko Widodo has faced criticism for his implicit endorsement of Prabowo and perceived attempts to influence the election outcome leading up to voting day. However, Widodo and his allies have denied these allegations.
Launching an inquiry would require support from lawmakers, making it a challenging endeavor, according to Arya Fernandes from Indonesia’s Center for Strategic and International Studies. “Even if the inquiry is approved, its outcome will not be able to overturn the election results,” he added, noting that its purpose would be to exert pressure on the incoming government.
Prabowo, who contested the outcome of the past two presidential elections in 2014 and 2019, citing widespread cheating, took his cases to Indonesia’s Constitutional Court, which rejected both attempts. These actions led to violent street protests in the country.
