• Indonesia’s defence minister Subianto claims victory in election.
• Unofficial results show Subianto bagging around 58% of votes.
• Anies and Ganjar Pranowo trail him with approximately 25% and 17%, respectively.

Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto has claimed victory in the presidential election, marking his third attempt at securing the nation’s highest office, Reuters reported.  

Unofficial “quick counts” by independent pollsters indicate Prabowo’s substantial triumph, with around 58% of votes, more than double that of his closest rival, former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan.

The competition featured popular figures Anies and Ganjar Pranowo, who trailed with approximately 25% and 17%, respectively. 

Prabowo, once a feared lieutenant of the late autocrat Suharto, strategically garnered support from the incumbent Joko Widodo, positioning himself as a continuity candidate.

The leading candidate must secure over 50% of votes and at least 20% in half of the provinces to avoid a runoff. Anies pledged to respect the official result, vowing to continue the “movement of change.” 

Allegations of electoral violations were raised by Ganjar and Anies, terming it “structural, systematic, and massive fraud.”

The unofficial legislative contest counts indicate a potential strong parliamentary backing for Prabowo’s coalition, with around 42% of votes. 

Analysts attribute Prabowo’s success to the “Jokowi effect,” capitalising on the outgoing president’s implied endorsement and popularity.

Prabowo’s transformation from a military hardliner to a grandfatherly figure has garnered support, particularly from the youth.

Arya Fernandes of Indonesia’s Center for Strategic and International Studies suggests that a second round is unlikely, crediting the effectiveness of the incumbent’s political support. 

While Joko Widodo has not explicitly endorsed any candidate, allegations of interference and a controversial eligibility rule change allowing his son to be Prabowo’s running mate have stirred controversy.

Prabowo’s emphatic lead in unofficial counts reduces the prospect of legal challenges, affirming decisions for the Widodo-Prabowo alliance in the post-election period. 

The world’s largest single-day election, involving nearly 259,000 candidates and 18 parties, highlights the Indonesian people’s commitment to the democratic process, according to the US State Department.