In Jakarta, losing Indonesian presidential candidate Anies Baswedan took a significant step by filing a legal case at the constitutional court on Thursday. The purpose of this action was to challenge the outcome of an election that was overwhelmingly won by Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto.
Anies, who is a former Jakarta governor, stated that the primary goal of the case was to ensure that democracy is improved. He also mentioned that there were numerous issues with the election that needed to be addressed and corrected.
After the results were released on Wednesday, Anies refused to concede defeat. His team has alleged that the current administration unfairly attempted to influence the outcome of the election, although authorities have denied these claims.
Official results revealed that ex-special forces commander Prabowo Subianto, who received tacit support from the popular incumbent President Joko Widodo, secured nearly 60% of the vote. Anies followed in second place with 25%, while former Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo obtained 16% of the votes.
During a press conference, Anies emphasized the significance of both the electoral process and its outcomes. He stated, “When there is a problematic process, there will be problematic results.” Anies highlighted various issues from policies and regulations to the execution of the election that needed to be rectified.
Anies’s team raised concerns about the widespread distribution of social assistance, such as rice, fertiliser, and cash handouts, in crucial electoral areas, which they believe influenced the voters. However, the administration has refuted these claims.
Furthermore, the team criticized a last-minute decision by the Constitutional Court last year to change election rules, enabling the president’s son to become Prabowo’s running mate. Notably, the court’s chief justice at that time was President Widodo’s brother-in-law.
The judge faced criticism from an ethics panel for allegedly allowing “intervention from an external party,” although no specific entity was named. Despite this reprimand, he retained his position on the bench.
Supporters of President Joko Widodo have dismissed allegations of his interference in the court’s decision. Both losing camps, including the Ganjar Pranowo team, have alleged that the electoral process was tainted by widespread counting irregularities and are expected to file legal challenges within three days of the results announcement.
Prabowo Subianto, a charismatic ex-commander who rose to fame through TikTok, clinched a resounding victory with the backing of young voters and his commitment to continuity. In response to the results, Prabowo expressed gratitude to his supporters, including President Jokowi, and vowed to be a leader for all Indonesians. His team has assembled over 30 lawyers to address any legal disputes that may arise.
(Reporting by Kate Lamb and Fransiska Nangoy; Editing by Martin Petty)
