Former special forces commander Prabowo to take up Indonesian presidency

20/10/2024 11:32

        Indonesia's Prabowo Subianto on Sunday will take over as president of the world's third-largest democracy after sweeping the country's election with policies like free meals for school children and with the outgoing leader's son as his running mate.
        
        The 73-year-old former special forces commander won the Feb. 14 contest with nearly 60% of the vote and has spent the past nine months building a formidable parliamentary coalition.
        
        Prabowo will officially become Indonesia's eighth president on Sunday morning after he is sworn in during a ceremony at Indonesia's parliament, flanked by outgoing President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.
        
        Prabowo, who unsuccessfully ran for the presidency twice before, is expected to give a speech to lawmakers at the parliament's upper house after the swearing-in and before heading to the presidential palace.
        
        He will be joined by his running mate, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, 37, the eldest son of Jokowi.