Prabowo Subianto will build party support in Indonesia

Significance

Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto won the poll comfortably, with nearly 59% of the vote. However, the parliamentary elections held concurrently went less well for him, with the coalition supporting his presidential bid not quite performing strongly enough for a majority in the People’s Representative Council (DPR), the main legislative chamber.

Impacts

• Prabowo’s outreach to parties currently not aligned with him will have a bearing on how he apportions cabinet positions.
• If the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle leads the opposition to Prabowo as expected, it will be a tough adversary.
• The stability of the next administration will hinge on whether Prabowo can manage competing interests among the parties in his coalition.