20-3-2024 (JAKARTA) The final results are in, confirming Prabowo Subianto, 72, as the victor in Indonesia’s hard-fought 2024 presidential election. However, the former general’s ascension to the nation’s highest office has been marred by allegations of electoral impropriety and protests demanding the incumbent’s impeachment.
On 20th March, the Indonesian election commission (KPU) unveiled the official tally, with Prabowo and running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka securing a resounding 58.6% of the total vote – approximately 96.2 million ballots, as reported by CNBC Indonesia. This represented the former military man’s third bid for the presidency.
The opposing pair of former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan and Muhaimin Iskandar garnered 24.9% (nearly 41 million votes), while former Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo and Mahfud MD trailed at 16.5% (around 27 million votes). Nationwide, over 164 million Indonesians cast their ballots.
Prabowo is slated to assume office in October 2024 when incumbent President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s tenure concludes. Official recapitulation data cited by Tribun News revealed the president-elect’s dominance across 36 of Indonesia’s 38 provinces, with Anies and Muhaimin victorious in just two regions.
However, Prabowo’s path to the presidential palace has been beset by turbulence. Hundreds of Indonesians have staged protests outside the elections commission headquarters in Jakarta in recent days, demanding Jokowi’s impeachment over alleged fraud, according to Benar News. Demonstrators accused the outgoing leader of interference and favouritism, given Prabowo’s alliance with Jokowi’s eldest son Gibran.
“Democracy has been utterly violated by Jokowi, and we demand the House of Representatives impeach him,” a spokesperson for the protesters told Benar News.
Furthermore, runner-up Anies Baswedan revealed plans last Wednesday to contest the results at Indonesia’s Constitutional Court. “When discussing free and fair elections, the state must maintain neutrality towards all contestants and organise impartially. That has been absent,” Anies remarked to Reuters.
Under Indonesian law, losing candidates have three days to formally challenge the presidential election outcome at the constitutional court, CNN Indonesia reported. As the controversy swirls, Prabowo must now confront simmering public disquiet over the integrity of his victory in governing Southeast Asia’s largest democracy.
