Retired Army General Prabowo Subianto, who lost the 2019 Indonesian presidential election to the incumbent Joko Widodo, has proceeded to the Constitutional Court to challenge the election results.
Prabowo claims that the election was fraudulent and that some of the votes have been rigged to favour the eventual winner, Joko Widodo.
The General Election Commission (KPU) released the official results of the presidential election on Tuesday, placing Joko Widodo and Ma’ruf Amin ahead of Prabowo with 55.5 per cent of the votes. Prabowo, and running mate Sandiaga Uno, managed to obtain 44.5 per cent of the votes.
The election supervisory board has since rebuked all claims of massive cheating and systematic fraud as alleged by Prabowo’s team. His supporters have demonstrated violently in the streets of Central Jakarta over the last few days to protest against the election results. The protesters have also clashed with the authorities in several places. Eight were known to have been killed while about 737 have been injured and admitted to different Jakarta hospitals.
The Constitutional court will have to make a ruling within 14 days, after Prabowo’s team submits sufficient documentation and proof of fraud. A decision will be made by June 15.
Source: Channel News Asia
Image: CNBC