By Ananda Teresia and Stefanno Sulaiman
JAKARTA (Reuters) -Indonesia’s Prabowo Subianto on Sunday took over as president of the world’s third-largest democracy after sweeping the nation’s election with insurance policies like free meals for varsity kids and with the outgoing chief’s son as his operating mate.
The 73-year-old former particular forces commander gained the Feb. 14 contest with almost 60% of the vote and has spent the previous 9 months constructing a formidable parliamentary coalition.
Prabowo, sporting a standard black hat and navy swimsuit with a woven maroon and golden sarong, formally grow to be Indonesia’s eighth president on Sunday morning after he was sworn in throughout a ceremony at Indonesia’s parliament.
Prabowo, who unsuccessfully ran for the presidency twice earlier than, mentioned in a speech to lawmakers after taking his oath of workplace that he could be president for all Indonesians, even those that didn’t vote for him.
However he mentioned there have been inside points within the nation that needed to be grappled with, together with corruption.
“Do we realize that our people and our children are malnourished. So many of our people don’t have good jobs. So many of our schools are neglected,” Prabowo mentioned.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we have to be courageous looking at all of this, and we have to be courageous solving all these problems,” he mentioned.
He was joined within the swearing-in ceremony by his operating mate, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, 37, the eldest son of outgoing President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
As they make their solution to the presidential palace by means of a festival-like environment they are going to be greeted by 1000’s of flag-waving supporters thronging Jakarta streets lined with posters of the incoming chief.
Flower boards arrange exterior the palace both congratulated Prabowo and Gibran or thanked Jokowi for his decade as president.
Prabowo and Gibran are anticipated to cease at seven phases alongside the way in which between parliament and the palace, Nusron Wahid, a Prabowo aide, advised reporters on Friday.
Jokowi supporters are additionally attending the celebrations to bid farewell to Indonesia’s outgoing chief.
Anneta Yuniar, a bystander who had excitedly waved at Jokowi’s motorcade because it slowly made its well beyond supporters earlier than the ceremony, mentioned she would miss Jokowi however that Prabowo was a robust chief.
“Prabowo will continue the development that Jokowi started. There’s continuity. It’s what I want,” she mentioned.
Jokowi has left an indelible mark on the nation of 280 million, presiding over a interval of robust financial progress and large infrastructure growth.
Critics additionally say, although, his rule has been marked by an increase in old-time patronage and dynastic politics, they usually warn about diminished integrity in courts and different state establishments.
Indonesian police and army have put in place strict safety measures, deploying not less than 100,000 personnel throughout the town, together with snipers and anti-riot models.
Prabowo is anticipated to satisfy with overseas dignitaries, together with plenty of heads of state, in a while Sunday on the presidential palace, mentioned Hasan Nasbi, the top of the presidential communications organisation.
China mentioned it’s sending Vice President Han Zheng to the inauguration. The delegation from the US is being led by U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
Throughout his marketing campaign, Prabowo billed himself to voters and buyers alike because the “continuity candidate”.
He has set a goal to speed up financial progress to eight% from a present charge of 5%, pledged to make Indonesia self-sufficient in manufacturing of staples, and signalled a extra lively function on the worldwide stage.
Previous allegations in opposition to Prabowo of involvement within the kidnapping of scholar activists and human rights abuses in Papua and East Timor, nonetheless, have additionally raised concern about Indonesia’s trajectory of democracy, human rights advocates say.
Prabowo has at all times denied the allegations that led to his dismissal from the army in 1998, the identical 12 months Indonesia broke free from the decades-long authoritarian rule of former President Suharto.
