Former Indonesian general Prabowo Subianto yesterday took over as president of the world’s third-largest democracy, vowing to combat internal issues such as corruption that plague the country and to make it more self-sufficient.
The 73-year-old has undergone a remarkable transformation, from being a former military commander facing unproven allegations of rights abuses to sweeping the polls and leading the country of 280 million people.
“We will lead the Indonesian government ... by prioritizing the interests of all Indonesian people, including those who did not vote for us,” he said as he was sworn in as the country’s eighth president, pledging to tackle corruption and protect democracy.
Photo: Reuters
“We must always realize that a free nation is where the people are free,” he said, at times raising his voice.
In a wide-ranging speech lasting about an hour, Prabowo said that self-sufficiency for food was possible within five years, while also pledging to become self-sufficient in energy.
He also 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.
Prabowo won the Feb. 14 contest with nearly 60 percent of the vote and has spent the past nine months building a formidable parliamentary coalition.
He was joined in the swearing-in ceremony by his running mate, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, 37, the eldest son of outgoing Indonesian president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
Prabowo made China his first foreign visit after his election, before embarking on trips to a dozen other countries including Russia and Australia, where he signed a key security deal.
He spoke of sticking to Indonesia’s neutral foreign policy, but said that territorial defense would be a priority.
“We want to be the good neighbor,” he said. “We don’t want to disturb other countries, but we will not let any countries disturb us.”
After his speech, 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.
Flower boards outside the palace either congratulated Prabowo and Gibran or thanked Jokowi for his decade of service.
Jokowi supporters are also attending the celebrations to bid farewell to Indonesia’s outgoing leader.
Anneta Yuniar, a bystander who had excitedly waved at Jokowi’s motorcade as it slowly made its way past supporters before the ceremony, said she would miss Jokowi, but that Prabowo was a strong leader.
“Prabowo will continue the development that Jokowi started. There’s continuity. It’s what I want,” she said.
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