Prabowo Subianto Inaugurated as Indonesia’s Eighth President

Former military general Prabowo Subianto, new President of Indonesia (Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons)

(Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on November 13, 2024)

Former military general Prabowo Subianto was inaugurated Indonesia’s eighth president on October 20, 2024. His transition into power came after two previous unsuccessful presidential campaigns and a landslide win in February 2024. 

Controversy surrounding the new president stems from both his military past and his first acts as president, according to BBC News. Once a lieutenant general under Indonesia's dictatorial second president, Subianto has repeatedly come under scrutiny for accusations of human rights violations. With former president Joko Widodo’s support, however, Subianto received just over 58 percent of the vote in 2024’s elections.  He subsequently selected a cabinet composed largely of Widodo’s advisors, a move thought to be a “political reward’ to his predecessor” and eliciting concern about the potential formation of a political dynasty, according to the Associated Press (AP).

The AP writes that Subianto has promised to expand upon Widodo’s modernization policies. Subianto’s main assurance has been continuity. Widodo’s policies have proven to be highly effective in encouraging Indonesia’s economic growth yet costly to the country’s environmental health and to the traditions of certain communities.  Nevertheless, Subianto has gained widespread support for his strongly patriotic image and his ability to inspire hope that Indonesia’s struggling economy will continue to improve under his leadership, the AP reports. 

In short, as explained by The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a leader whom Indonesian and international citizens alike have long regarded as an “authoritarian threat” is now responsible for a still-shaky democracy. Subianto has evolved from a prominent figure in Indonesia’s dictatorship to a democratic leader of the people. In the process, he has cultivated widespread popularity but has not helped to alleviate concerns that the Indonesian government may soon begin to resemble its former dictatorial state.