Prabowo suggests scrapping Indonesia's regional elections to cut costs

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has suggested scrapping one of the country's two nationwide elections to cut costs, advocating a return to a model similar to that used during its three-decade era of authoritarian rule.

Indonesia, the world's third-largest democracy, currently votes for presidents and national and regional legislatures in one election, and chooses mayors, governors and regents in another.

Mr Prabowo late on Dec 12 suggested doing away with the second election and having regional legislatures choose mayors and governors instead, which he said would free up funds to spend on upgrades and meals for schools.