JAKARTA, INDONESIA (AP) – An ex-general with ties to Indonesia’s popular outgoing president will be inaugurated as its leader tomorrow.
He has promised to continue his predecessor’s widely popular policies.
At the election in February, Prabowo Subianto, 73, presented himself as heir to the immensely popular President Joko Widodo, the first Indonesian president to emerge from outside the political and military elite.
Subianto, who was then defence minister, vowed to continue the modernisation agenda that has brought rapid growth and vaulted Indonesia into the ranks of middle-income countries.
In a speech last month, Subianto, who’s also the chair of the Gerindra Party, reminded party members to always remain loyal to the nation, not to him.
He also vowed his unwavering commitment to defend the people, even at the cost of his life.
“Once you smell I’m on the wrong path, please leave me,” Subianto said. “My life, my oath… I want to die for the truth, I want to die defending my people, I want to die defending the poor, I want to die defending the honour of the Indonesian nation. I have no doubt.” But Subianto will enter office with unresolved questions about the costs of rapid growth for the environment and traditional communities.
Other than promising continuity, Subianto has laid out few concrete plans, leaving observers uncertain about what his election will mean for the country’s economy and its still-maturing democracy.
A former rival of Widodo who lost two presidential races to him, Subianto embraced the popular leader to run as his heir, even choosing Widodo’s son as his running mate, a decision that ran up against constitutional age limits and has activists worried about an emerging political dynasty in the 25-year-old democracy.
But for now, he appears to enjoy widespread support. He secured a majority in the election on February 14, winning 59 per cent, or more than 96 million votes in a three-way race, more than enough for victory without a runoff.
Subianto was born in 1951 to one of Indonesia’s most powerful families, the third of four children. His father, Sumitro Djojohadikusumo, was an influential politician, and a minister under Presidents Sukarno and Suharto.
Subianto’s father first worked for Sukarno, the leader of Indonesia’s quest for independence from the Dutch, as well as the first president. But Djojohadikusumo later turned against the leader and was forced into exile.
Subianto spent most of his childhood overseas and speaks French, German, English and Dutch.
The family returned to Indonesia after General Suharto came to power in 1967 following a failed left-wing coup.
Subianto enrolled in Indonesia’s Military Academy in 1970, graduating in 1974 and serving in the military for nearly three decades. In 1976, Subianto joined the Indonesian National Army Special Force, called Kopassus, and was commander of a group.
In 1983, he married Suharto’s daughter, Siti Hediati Hariyadi.
Subianto returned from Jordan in 2008, and helped to found the Gerinda Party.
He ran for the presidency twice, losing to Widodo both times. He refused to acknowledge the results at first, but accepted Widodo’s offer of the defence minister position in 2019, in a bid for unity.
In the most recent election, Subianto respected the democratic process. He has vowed to continue Widodo’s economic development plans, which capitalised on Indonesia’s abundant nickel, coal, oil and gas reserves, leading Southeast Asia’s biggest economy through a decade of rapid growth and modernisation that vastly expanded its networks of roads and railways.
That includes the USD30 billion project to build a new capitol city called Nusantara.
Subianto and his family also have business ties to Indonesia’s palm oil, coal and gas, mining, agriculture and fishery industries.
For the 2024 election, Subianto projected a softer image that has resonated with Indonesia’s large youth population, including videos of him dancing on stage and ads showing digital anime-like renderings of him roller-skating through Jakarta’s streets.
“We will be the president and vice president and government for all Indonesian people,” said Subianto during his victory speech. – Victoria Milko & Niniek Karmini
