Prabowo calls for unity following official results

The Indonesian Election Commission (KPU) has certified the results of the 14 February vote for the new president who will take office in October. The winning tandem won 58.59% of the vote, averting a runoff. They paid tribute to their predecessor (and former rival) Jokowi, described as "a noble statesman" who "strongly supported my candidature".The 'girlfriends' rat in Central Asia

akarta (AsiaNews) - A standard thanks to people for having participated in the vote and nvitation to rivals - and their voters - to unity, to a common commitment for the future of Indonesia, were the first words of the new president (and former Defense Minister) Prabowo Subianto, officially declared the winner of the elections of 14 February, following the official results published by the Indonesian Election Commission (KPU).

However, his appeal seems to fall on deaf ears because the two main challengers Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo have already announced that they intend to contest the result.

“I truly thank all the Indonesians who have shown support for both of us” declared the new president Subianto following the publication of the official data, also referring to his deputy Gibran Rakabuming Raka, eldest son of the current head of state.

Following this, he quoted his predecessor and outgoing president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo whom he defines as a “noble statesman”, once a “political opponent” and today “a friend” who has “strongly supported my candidacy”.

Subianto then addressed the dozens of diplomats and foreign leaders who "publicly expressed" their best wishes to him for his new role.

“We had - concluded the elected head of state of the third democracy in the world by number of inhabitants - the largest one-day elections in the world. A vote that took place smoothly and without any violent incident" under the watchful and watchful eyes of observers and the international community.

Satisfaction has also come from outgoing president Widodo in these hours. From West Kalimantan he expressed "strong appreciation" for the work of the Indonesian Election Commission and its "success" in disseminating "the final results" of the election.

Subianto and his deputy will be sworn in on October 20th, at the end of Widodo's five-year mandate, whose first mandate began in 2014, beating his successor, who had initially contested the outcome of the vote. However, over the years a relationship of esteem, friendship and collaboration has been created between Subianto and Widido himself, who decided to entrust the Ministry of Defense to his former rival as a sign of unity and alliance.

The 72-year-old former general, subject to accusations of human rights violations for decades, won with 58.59% of the votes. In the elections of February 14, 80% of eligible voters participated, out of a total of 205 million people spread across 17 thousand islands and three different time zones.

The preferences collected in the first round by the winning duo exceeded the quota necessary to avoid a run-off, while the two challengers Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo totaled 25% and 16% of the preferences.

Anticipating possible protests from supporters of the two defeated rivals, the police deployed more than 3 thousand officers to patrol the streets of Jakarta in the hours before the vote was made official. In recent weeks some demonstrations had been held, at the base of which there were accusations - however unproven - of widespread fraud and electoral fraud.