His supporters danced outside his home in Jakarta after preliminary polls showed he had won.
Jakarta:
Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto looked set to become the new president of the world’s third-largest democracy on Thursday, potentially avoiding a runoff with an electoral rival who has yet to throw in the towel.
The former general declared victory on Wednesday night after preliminary results from a government-approved pollster showed he would win the top job with a majority in his third try.
A slower official tally by the Islands Electoral Commission also showed the 72-year-old president running for president with 55.97% of the vote, more than double his nearest rival, with 39% of the votes counted.
“This victory should be a victory for all Indonesians,” Prabowo told a jubilant crowd in the capital Jakarta on Wednesday night.
He said he would form a government “made up of Indonesia’s best sons and daughters.”
His supporters danced outside his home in Jakarta after preliminary polls showed he had won.
“Quick counts” by government-sanctioned polling organizations have also been used to claim victory in previous elections.
Prabowo lost the previous two presidential elections to popular outgoing leader Joko Widodo
But he now appears poised to succeed his former rival, who observers say unfairly bolstered his defense secretary’s campaign.
Another candidate, Anies Baswedan, the favorite to take on Prabowo in the runoff, said he would respect the results only if they were finalized.
“We have to respect the people’s decision,” he told reporters at campaign headquarters after his opponent declared victory.
A spokesman for Ganjar Pranowo, who placed third in the polls, told reporters his team had found “organized, systematic and massive” electoral fraud, but provided no evidence. .
But analysts say Prabowo’s victory is almost certain.
“It’s all over for Anis and Ganjar,” said Adrian Vickers, a professor at the University of Sydney.
– ‘expect’ –
In the lead-up to the vote, there was much international discussion about Prabowo’s human rights record.
NGOs and former bosses accuse Prabowo of ordering the kidnapping of pro-democracy activists in the late 1990s, towards the end of Suharto’s three-decade dictatorship.
Some of these activists have never been found, and witnesses have accused his military forces of committing atrocities in East Timor.
He was fired from the army over the kidnappings, but he denies the accusations and was never charged.
But voters appear to be ignoring that history as he reshapes his image from a formidable military figure to a “lovable grandpa” who dances on social media.
“The ‘Gemoy’ (cute) narrative made him popular,” said Adelia Natasha, 24, who voted in central Jakarta.
“But it blinds young people to politics. They don’t see the past record. They just see him as a gem.”
Another key factor in his popularity has been the attention-grabbing choice of Widodo’s eldest son, 36-year-old Raqqa, as his running mate.
The then chief justice of Indonesia, Widodo’s brother-in-law, changed the rules in October that barred candidates under 40 from running for high office.
Some observers have also accused Widodo of improperly using government funds to support Prabowo, but Prabowo has denied accusations of wrongdoing.
Countries commenting on the election have so far avoided congratulating the fiery populist on his apparent victory, with an official announcement still weeks away.
Australian Foreign Minister Wong Yin-hyun told a Senate hearing on Thursday that Canberra looked forward to “working closely with” the next president when he takes office in October.
The United States congratulated Indonesians for their “vigorous vote” in a statement but did not mention Prabowo.
Meanwhile, rights groups have flagged human rights concerns about Prabowo, saying he needs to be transparent about his history.
“This applies both to current human rights issues and to accountability and justice for what happened in the past,” said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
