13-3-2024 (JAKARTA) Presidential candidate Anies Baswedan has announced his intention to file a complaint at the country’s Constitutional Court over the results of last month’s highly contested election. The former governor of Jakarta, who was among the top contenders in the February 14th presidential race, has expressed dissatisfaction with the unofficial results that have emerged, setting the stage for a potential legal battle.
Unofficial tallies indicate that Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, who had the tacit backing of incumbent President Joko Widodo, secured a resounding victory, garnering nearly 60 percent of the votes cast. However, Anies Baswedan, along with his supporters, appears unwilling to accept these preliminary figures without scrutiny.
“We plan to file to (the Constitutional Court) for sure, but the content is not something that we can disclose,” Baswedan told reporters, leaving the specifics of his complaint shrouded in mystery for the time being.
The national election commission is expected to announce the official winner by March 20th, a date that will likely mark the beginning of a new chapter in Indonesia’s political landscape, regardless of the outcome.
Baswedan’s decision to challenge the results comes amid a broader effort by parties supporting him and another presidential candidate, Ganjar Pranowo, to launch a parliamentary investigation into the government’s conduct leading up to the election day and alleged violations that may have occurred during the voting process.
While the Constitutional Court typically handles election disputes in Indonesia, the country’s parliament wields the power to investigate government policies, the implementation of certain regulations, and even examine the conduct of public officials, including the president himself.
The move by Baswedan and his allies underscores the high stakes involved in the presidential race and the determination of the opposition to scrutinize the electoral process thoroughly. Prabowo Subianto, who has made two previous unsuccessful attempts at the presidency, appears to have benefited from the unofficial support of President Joko Widodo, whose administration has faced mounting allegations of ethical breaches and meddling – claims that his allies have vehemently denied.
