Indonesia swears in Prabowo Subianto because the nation’s eighth president

President-elect Prabowo Subianto greets journalists as he leaves his residence on the day of his inauguration, in Jakarta, on October 20, 2024. | Picture credit score: Reuters

Prabowo Subianto was sworn in Sunday because the eighth president of the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, finishing his journey from a former common accused of human rights abuses in the course of the darkish days of Indonesia’s navy dictatorship to the presidential palace.

The previous Protection Minister, who turned 73 on Thursday, was applauded within the streets by hundreds of waving supporters after taking the oath on the Quran, the Muslim holy e-book, in entrance of lawmakers and international dignitaries.

Editorial | A robust man in cost: on the Indonesian presidential elections

Leaders and senior officers from greater than 40 international locations flew to attend the ceremony within the capital Jakarta, together with the UK, France, america, Saudi Arabia, Russia, South Korea, China, Australia and different Southeast Asian nations.

Subianto was a long-time rival of the immensely in style President Joko Widodo, who twice ran in opposition to him for the presidency and refused to simply accept defeat each occasions, in 2014 and 2019.

However Widodo appointed Subianto protection chief after his re-election, paving the way in which for an alliance regardless of their rival political events. In the course of the marketing campaign, Mr. Subianto ran as inheritor to the favored outgoing president and promised to proceed signature insurance policies corresponding to the development of a brand new multibillion-dollar capital and limits on the export of uncooked supplies supposed to spice up home business.

Backed by Widodo, Subianto gained a landslide victory in February’s direct presidential election with guarantees of political continuity.

Subianto was sworn in alongside his new vp, former Surakarta mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka, 37. He selected Mr. Raka, who’s Mr. Widodo’s son, as his working mate, and Mr. Widodo favored Mr. Subianto over his former social gathering’s candidate. Former rivals have turn out to be tacit allies, though Indonesian presidents don’t sometimes endorse candidates.

However how he’ll govern Southeast Asia’s largest economic system – the place practically 90% of Indonesia’s 282 million individuals are Muslim – stays unsure after a marketing campaign during which he made few concrete guarantees apart from continuity with the favored former president.

Subianto, who comes from one of many nation’s richest households, contrasts sharply with Widodo, the primary Indonesian president to emerge exterior the political and navy elite, who got here from a humble background and, as president, usually blended with employees. . multitudes of courses.

Subianto was a particular forces commander till he was expelled by the navy in 1998 over accusations that he performed a task within the kidnappings and torture of activists and different abuses. He was by no means tried and went into self-imposed exile in Jordan in 1998, though a number of of his subordinates have been tried and convicted.

Jordanian King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein was anticipated to attend Sunday’s ceremony, however canceled it on the final minute because of escalating tensions within the Center East and determined to ship International Minister Nancy Namrouqa as his particular envoy Subianto and Abdullah met in particular person in June for talks in Amman on humanitarian help to folks affected by the conflict in Gaza.

Subianto, who has by no means held elected workplace, will lead an enormous, numerous archipelago nation whose economic system has boomed amid sturdy world demand for its pure sources. But it surely should take care of world financial difficulties and regional tensions in Asia, the place territorial conflicts and rivalry between america and China loom massive.