Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo becomes main contender six months ahead of polls

Parties supporting Prabowo Subianto’s candidacy command 46 per cent of Parliament seats. - PHOTO: AFP

JAKARTA: Prabowo Subianto has received the backing of nearly half of the nine political parties in Parliament, putting him ahead of the two other candidates in Indonesia’s five-yearly presidential election that is slated for February 2024.

In a surprise decision on Sunday, the nation’s oldest party Golkar and the Islamic-leaning National Mandate Party pledged support for the Defence Minister and former army general.