Indonesia’s Prabowo Subianto has taken over as president of the world’s third-largest democracy, months after sweeping the country’s election with policies such as free meals for school children and with the outgoing leader’s son as his running mate.
The 73-year-old former special forces commander, who won the February 14 contest with nearly 60 per cent of the vote, has spent the past nine months building a formidable parliamentary coalition.
Mr Prabowo, wearing a traditional black hat and navy suit with a woven maroon and golden sarong, officially become Indonesia’s eighth president on Sunday morning after he was sworn in during a ceremony at Indonesia’s parliament.
Mr Prabowo, who unsuccessfully ran for the presidency twice before, said in a fiery speech to politicians that he would be president for all Indonesians and challenged the nation to help him face down the country’s problems.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, left, and former Indonesian President Joko Widodo salute during the presidential inauguration ceremony. (AP: Tatan Syuflana)
“We must always realise that a free nation is where the people are free,” Mr Prabowo said, at times raising his voice.
“They must be freed of fear, poverty, hunger, ignorance, oppression, suffering.”
In a wide-ranging speech lasting about an hour, Mr Prabowo said self-sufficiency for food was possible within five years, while also pledging to become self-sufficient in energy.
The new president vowed to eradicate corruption and said that while he wanted to live in a democracy, it must be “polite”.
“A difference of opinion must come without enmity … fighting without hating,” he said.
Mr Prabowo won the February 14 contest with nearly 60 per cent of the vote and has spent the past nine months building a formidable parliamentary coalition.
Supporters outside the Presidential Palace watch a live feed showing Prabowo Subianto taking the oath as President of Indonesia at the parliament in Jakarta. (AFP: Juni Kriswanto)
He was joined by his running mate, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, 37, the eldest son of Mr Jokowi.
As they made their way to the palace they will be greeted by thousands of flag waving supporters already thronging Jakarta streets that are lined with posters of the incoming leader.
Flower boards set up outside the palace either congratulated Mr Prabowo and Mr Gibran or thanked Mr Jokowi for his decade as president.
Newly-inaugurated Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, greeted supporters after being sworn in. (AP: Dita Alangkara)
After his speech, Mr Prabowo wore a baseball cap and waved through a car sunroof as he made his way to the presidential palace, passing thousands of flag-waving supporters thronging Jakarta’s streets in a festival-like atmosphere.
Mr Prabowo and Mr Gibran are expected to stop at seven stages that have been set up along the way between parliament and the palace, Nusron Wahid, a Prabowo aide, told reporters on Friday.
Mr Jokowi’s supporters are also attending the celebrations and bid farewell to Indonesia’s outgoing leader.
Anneta Yuniar, a bystander who had excitedly waved at Mr Jokowi’s motorcade as it slowly made its way past supporters before the ceremony, said she would miss Mr Jokowi but that Mr Prabowo was a strong leader.
“Prabowo will continue the development that Jokowi started. There’s continuity. It’s what I want,” she said.
A crowd of well-wishers gather outside the Presidential Palace as they wait for the inauguration of Indonesia’s president-elect Prabowo Subianto. (AFP: Juni Kriswanto)
After two terms and a decade in power, Mr Jokowi has left an indelible mark on the nation of 280 million, presiding over a period of strong economic growth and massive infrastructure development.
Critics also say, though, his rule has been marked by a rise in old-time patronage and dynastic politics, and they warn about diminished integrity in courts and other state institutions.
Indonesian police and the military have put in place strict security measures, deploying at least 100,000 personnel across the city, including snipers and anti-riot units.
Mr Prabowo is expected to meet with foreign dignitaries, including about 20 heads of state, later on Sunday at the presidential palace, said Hasan Nasbi, the head of the presidential communications organisation.
Military and police officials inpsect troops during a security preparation before Prabowo Subianto’s inauguration.
(Reuters: Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana)
China said it is sending Vice President Han Zheng to the inauguration.
The delegation from the United States is being led by US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
During his campaign, Mr Prabowo billed himself to voters and investors alike as the “continuity candidate”.
He has set a target to accelerate economic growth to 8 per cent from a current rate of 5 per cent, pledged to make Indonesia self-sufficient in the production of staples, and signalled a more active role on the global stage.
Past allegations against Mr Prabowo of involvement in the kidnapping of student activists and human rights abuses in Papua and East Timor, however, have raised concerns about Indonesia’s trajectory on democracy, human rights advocates say.
Mr Prabowo has always denied the allegations that led to his dismissal from the military in 1998, the same year Indonesia broke free from the decades-long authoritarian rule of former president Suharto.
Reuters