JAKARTA: Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto has declared triumph in the presidential election following unofficial vote counts indicating a significant lead over his contenders.
The 72-year-old former special forces commander, who had previously run for president twice without success, garnered approximately 58 percent of the votes, according to four pollsters conducting “quick count” tallies from samples of voting stations nationwide.
As of 14:00 GMT on Wednesday, the ballots tallied ranged from about 86 to 95 percent. His rivals, Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo, trailed with approximately 25 percent and 17 percent, respectively, as per the independent pollsters, known for their accurate projections in previous presidential elections since the country adopted direct voting for the president in 2004.
In contrast, the preliminary count by the election commission progressed at a slower pace, indicating Prabowo’s securing of 57.7 percent of the votes, with around 6 percent of the ballots accounted for.
Addressing his jubilant supporters at a Jakarta stadium, Prabowo expressed gratitude for the swift results. Clad in matching pale blue checked shirts, he stood alongside his running mate, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the eldest son of outgoing President Joko Widodo.
In a televised speech, Prabowo emphasized the importance of humility in victory, asserting that it should be a triumph for all Indonesian people.
Neither Anies nor Ganjar conceded defeat, urging the public to await the official results expected by March 20 at the latest.
“We must respect the people’s decision,” Anies remarked to reporters at his campaign headquarters after Prabowo’s victory claim.
