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Prabowo’s rivals face uphill battle to open election fraud probe
Presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo has suggested that his backers, including his own Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the largest party in the legislature, launch a House of Representatives inquiry into what he has described as “large-scale election fraud”.
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Poll workers prepare ballot papers during a revote at a polling station in Serang, Banten on Feb 21, 2024. The General Elections Commission (KPU) held revotes in four polling stations in the city after officials found evidence of underage voting, double voting and voters without proper documentation. (Antara/Asep Fathulrahman)
Rivals to presumptive president-elect Prabowo Subianto, who is widely seen as President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s favored successor, face an uphill battle to have their allegations of election fraud investigated as Jokowi moves swiftly to pull opponents into his fold before stepping down.
Quick counts indicate that Prabowo will be the next president, but not everyone is convinced. His rivals for the office say the election process has been marred by fraud and they are working together to challenge the official results, to be declared by the General Elections Commission (KPU) by March 20.
Presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo has suggested that his backers, including his own Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the largest party in the legislature, launch a House of Representatives inquiry into what he has described as “large-scale election fraud”.
His suggestion was discussed in a meeting between the Ganjar-Mahfud MD campaign team and party leaders in their camp on Monday, during which PDI-P matriarch Megawati Soekarnoputri reportedly gave her nod and asked for the initiative “to be discussed thoroughly” by the political parties.
For such an inquiry to be opened, 25 House members must propose it at a plenary session and the request must then be approved by more than half of the body’s 575 lawmakers.
The PDI-P and the National Development Party (PPP), its only definite ally on the issue in the House, command just 147 seats combined and will almost certainly need to find other allies to launch an inquiry.
"If the House is not ready to exercise its right of inquiry, I encourage it to file an interpellation motion instead regarding the alleged 2024 presidential election fraud," Ganjar said on Monday, referring to the House's right to seek information from the government on important issues.
