President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo (left, front) and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto having a chat on March 8, 2024, before boarding the presidential aircraft at Halim Perdanakusumah Air Force Base in East Jakarta to depart for Jokowi’s official visit to East Java. - The Jakarta Post/Antara
JAKARTA (Jakarta Post/ANN): President-elect Prabowo Subianto has vowed to continue the policies of outgoing President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, saying there is nothing to be ashamed about the decision.
"We in the Onward Indonesia Coalition [KIM] have no doubt and no shame in saying that we are followers of President Joko Widodo," Prabowo said in an iftar speech on Monday, referring to the electoral alliance that backed his campaign.
He said many great nations in the world had a tradition of honoring their leaders, and new leaders everywhere should follow this tradition.
"Our objectives are clear: We will build on the foundations laid by our predecessors, all presidents before me. I have to acknowledge that," said Prabowo.
The incumbent defense minister won the presidential race on Feb. 14 with nearly 59 percent of the vote, marking a resounding victory over rivals Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo, who respectively received around 25 percent and 16 percent, according to the General Election Commission (KPU).
The official results largely reflected the informal tallies independent pollsters had maintained since election day.
Prabowo has embraced the populist agenda of Jokowi, who broke into a political scene long dominated by Soeharto-era elites and beat him twice at the polls in 2014 and 2019.
The former Army general campaigned on a pledge to continue Jokowi’s policies, including a development agenda that includes policies to build up the country’s downstreaming sectors and to relocate the capital from traffic-clogged Jakarta to Nusantara in East Kalimantan later this year. - Jakarta Post/ANN
