Ex-general Subianto sworn in as president of Indonesia

Prabowo Subianto has been inaugurated as the eighth president of the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, completing his journey from an ex-general accused of rights abuses during the dark days of Indonesia’s military dictatorship to the presidential palace.

- STAFF REPORTER

The former defence minister, who turned 73 on Thursday, was cheered through the streets yesterday by thousands of waving supporters after taking his oath on the Quran, the Muslim holy book, in front of politicians and foreign dignitaries.

Banners and billboards to welcome the new president filled the streets of the capital, Jakarta, where tens of thousands gathered for festivities including speeches and musical performances along the city’s major thoroughfare.

Mr Subianto was a longtime rival of his predecessor as president, the immensely popular Joko Widodo. He ran against him for the presidency twice, in 2014 and 2019, and refused to accept his defeat on both occasions. But Mr Widodo appointed Mr Subianto as defence chief after his re-election, paving the way for an alliance despite their belonging to rival political parties.

During the campaign, Mr Subianto ran as the outgoing president’s heir, vowing to continue signature policies including the construction of a multibillion-pound new capital city and the imposition of limits on exporting raw materials, a measure intended to boost domestic industry. Backed by Mr Widodo, he swept to a landslide victory in February’s direct presidential election on promises of policy continuity.