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Prabowo calls for unity among political elites
Speaking at a ceremony where he was being confirmed as the winner of the Feb. 14 election, Prabowo, who won by a huge margin, said he was talking to elites in the country and it was vital parties could get along together for the common good.
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President-elect Prabowo Subianto and vice president-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka gesture before delivering their speech at General Election Commission (KPU) headquarters during the country's election commission officially announcing the presidential election winners in Jakarta, April 24, 2024.
(Reuters/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana)
P
resident-elect Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday vowed to fight for all Indonesians and called for unity among political elites to take the country forward, as he seeks to strengthen his legislative clout ahead of taking office in October.
Speaking at a ceremony where he was being confirmed as the winner of the Feb. 14 election, Prabowo, who won by a huge margin, said he was talking to elites in the country and it was vital parties could get along together for the common good.
Prabowo, who was tacitly backed by popular incumbent Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, is seeking to broaden his coalition in the new parliament and is in talks with parties who backed his election rivals.
"I will prove that I will fight for all Indonesians, including those who did not vote for me," Prabowo said.
"If Indonesia wants to survive, becoming a prosperous country, all elites must work together. If we dare to leave our differences aside, let's leave our feelings, let's find our love for the country, let's sacrifice together for our people."
The confirmation comes two days after the Constitutional Court rejected challenges from both losing candidates seeking a re-run of the presidential election and the disqualification of Prabowo and his running mate, ending all election disputes.
In his speech, Prabowo vowed to end poverty and corruption, adding he intends to bring improvement to all Indonesians.
He also said a free press was vital in Indonesia, describing it as "the absolute requirement for democracy".
Prabowo's current alliance comprises 48 percent of seats in the House of Representatives but his seniors aides have said that he aims to expand his coalition to secure a majority of seats.
The General Election Commission (KPU) "determines the presidential and vice presidential candidates number 2, Prabowo and Gibran, as the elected presidential and vice presidential candidates," said the commission chair Hasyim Asy'ari.
Prabowo has courted controversy for past allegations of human rights abuses, accused by rights groups of a role in disappearing democracy activists at the end of dictator Suharto's rule in the late 1990s.
But the fiery populist secured an easy election win on the back of his pledge to continue Jokowi's popular agenda of strong economic development and his choice of the president's eldest son Gibran as his vice president.
"I want to say that the match is over, a very important match, a very important contest. This is what the people were asking for," Prabowo said.
