Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto has been predicted to win the country's presidential elections based on unofficial tallies.
Local polling agencies showed that Subianto had between 57% and 59% of votes, with over 80% of the vote already counted in polling places sampled. Since the official count might last for a month, quick counts provided an accurate picture of the results of all four presidential elections held in Indonesia since it began direct voting in 2004.
The 72-year-old retired Suharto-era general linked to past human rights atrocities, which banned him from entering the United States for around 20 years, told thousands of supporters in a sports stadium in Jakarta that the victory was "the victory of all Indonesians."
There was no declaration by electoral officials, and the two former provincial governors who also contested the election in the world's third-largest democracy - Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo - have not conceded defeat, the Associated Press reported. To avoid a runoff against Baswedan and Pranowo, Subianto needed more than 50% of all votes cast and at least 20% in each of the country's provinces.
"We are grateful for the quick count results," he said in a speech, which was broadcast on national television. "We should not be arrogant, we should not be proud, we should not be euphoric, we still have to be humble, this victory must be a victory for all Indonesian people."
Succeeding Joko Widodo
Subianto presented himself as the successor to outgoing President Joko Widodo, whose eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, he chose as his running mate.
If confirmed as winner of the presidential race, the retired general would inherit an economy with impressive growth and ambitious infrastructure projects, including the $30 billion ongoing transfer of the nation's capital from sinking Jakarta in Java island to a location in Borneo.
The election is crucial for the United States and China since Indonesia has a huge domestic market, natural resources, and diplomatic influence with its Southeast Asian neighbors.
Subianto's Dark Past
Subianto was a military general during the brutal Suharto dictatorship that only ended in 1998, which garnered fears that the country would face an uncertain time. He also married one of Suharto's daughters.
He was dishonorably discharged for allowing the special forces under his command to kidnap and torture Suharto's political opponents, allegations he vehemently denied.
Subianto's election campaign was not as smooth as hoped, as the country's Constitutional Court allowed Widodo's son to run as vice president despite him not yet reaching the minimum age requirement of 40. Additionally, the Constitutional Court was then headed by Widodo's brother-in-law, who was removed by an ethics panel for not recusing himself, while Widodo was accused of favoritism and nepotism.
Widodo was also accused of trying to build a political dynasty of his own despite being the first president coming from outside the political and military elite since the end of the Suharto regime in 1998.
