24-3-2024 (JAKARTA) The legal battle over Indonesia’s presidential election intensified as the legal team of defeated candidate Ganjar Pranowo lodged a complaint at the country’s constitutional court on March 23, demanding a fresh election and the disqualification of defence minister Prabowo Subianto’s winning team.
Pranowo, a former governor of Central Java backed by the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), secured 16 per cent of the votes in the February election. Meanwhile, Prabowo, the defence minister, emerged victorious with nearly 60 per cent of the votes, followed by former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan, who garnered 25 per cent, according to official results.
Prabowo is scheduled for inauguration in October.
Todung Mulya Lubis, a member of Ganjar’s legal team, asserted in a statement that Prabowo’s disqualification was necessary due to alleged violations of legal and ethical standards during his candidacy registration, warranting a fresh election.
Lubis further claimed that the election process was marred by nepotism, resulting in what he described as “a coordinated abuse of power”. He made these remarks to reporters following the submission of the complaint at the constitutional court.
The controversy surrounding the election escalated in 2023 when the constitutional court altered eligibility rules, allowing Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the son of outgoing President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), to become Prabowo’s running mate. Notably, Jokowi’s brother-in-law served as the chief justice at the time of this pivotal ruling.
In a parallel move, the legal team of Anies Baswedan, another defeated candidate, also lodged a complaint on March 21, urging the court to order a new election while excluding Gibran, alleging that his eleventh-hour inclusion unfairly influenced the voting outcome.
Ganjar’s team raised additional concerns regarding the alleged politicisation of social assistance programs and abuse of the election commission’s IT system, although they did not provide specific details.
Prabowo’s victory was propelled by significant support from young voters and his pledge for policy continuity. Yusril Mahendra, a lawyer representing Prabowo’s campaign, affirmed that their team is well-prepared to address any legal challenges with a contingent of over 30 lawyers.
