27-3-2024 (JAKARTA) Indonesia’s defeated presidential candidates presented their legal challenge to last month’s election, alleging state interference and calling for a poll re-run and the disqualification of the winner, Prabowo Subianto.
Former governors Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo asserted that Defence Minister Prabowo’s resounding victory was facilitated by pressure exerted on regional officials by a partisan administration and President Joko Widodo, with social aid utilised to ensure a predetermined outcome.
Anies cautioned that the election’s outcome could signal a regression towards Indonesia’s authoritarian past, portraying the world’s third-largest democracy as being at risk. He highlighted the potential establishment of a troubling precedent, stating, “This practice will be perceived as normal, a habit.”
The outgoing administration, under President Jokowi, dismissed allegations of election interference. Prabowo secured nearly 60 per cent of the votes, with implicit support from his former rival Jokowi.
Prabowo pledged to uphold his predecessor’s agenda of infrastructure development, job creation, and the expansion of downstream industries to optimise Indonesia’s abundant mineral resources.
Anies garnered a quarter of the votes, while Ganjar Pranowo secured 16 per cent of the votes.
Appeal for Neutrality Challenges to election results are customary in Indonesia, with the Constitutional Court expected to deliver its verdict on April 22.
Anies’ legal team urged the court to invalidate Prabowo’s candidacy due to unfair practices, urging Jokowi to maintain neutrality in any potential re-run and abstain from utilising state resources or funding to favour any candidate.
Alleging conflicts of interest on the part of Jokowi, Anies’ legal representatives contended that such actions violated constitutional provisions for fair elections and laws governing corruption in state governance.
“Was the 2024 election held freely, honestly, and justly? Allow us to answer: No. What happened was the opposite,” Anies asserted before the court.
Prabowo has consistently maintained his victory was clear and fair. However, Anies’ presentation was deemed lacking in evidence by his legal team on Wednesday.
Ganjar’s legal team petitioned the court to order a re-run of the election by June 26, calling for the disqualification of Prabowo and his running mate, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is Jokowi’s son. They argued that Gibran’s last-minute inclusion unfairly influenced the vote.
Accusing Jokowi of nepotism and abuse of power, Ganjar’s team asserted that such actions violated the constitution, citing Gibran’s candidacy and the appointment of his supporters to regional positions.
“Violations in the election are surprising to us because they destroyed our morals, which is an abuse of power,” Ganjar asserted during the court proceedings.
Gibran’s candidacy was made possible by a sudden rule change by the same court where Jokowi’s brother-in-law, Anwar Usman, served as chief justice. However, Anwar has been disqualified from presiding over election disputes following findings of ethical violations.
Jokowi’s supporters refuted accusations of abuse of power to aid Prabowo.
Election analyst Titi Anggraini remarked that complaints by Anies and Ganjar concerning the president’s son’s role in the election might be complicated, given that the same court permitted his candidacy. Anggraini added, “The people who are presiding over their case are at the centre of the problems surrounding the 2024 elections.”
