Former Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto was sworn in as the eighth President of Indonesia on Sunday, alongside Gibran Rakabuming, the son of former President Joko Widodo, who was elected as Vice President.
The inauguration took place at approximately 10:30 AM local time at the Nusantara Building within the Senayan legislative complex in Jakarta. Dignitaries from 33 countries attended the ceremony, including India, which was represented by Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita.
This year marks a significant milestone, as both Indonesia and India celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations and a decade of India’s ‘Act East’ policy, with Indonesia being a key partner. The External Affairs Ministry emphasized that Margherita’s presence at the inauguration underscores India’s commitment to strengthening its Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Indonesia.
Prabowo secured the presidency with 59 percent of the vote in the elections held on February 14 this year. He enjoys considerable popularity among young voters, thanks to his active engagement on social media during the campaign. Alongside Gibran, he has pledged to continue the policies of Joko Widodo.
With extensive experience in both political and military spheres, Subianto previously served as Defence Minister under Widodo’s administration. In Indonesia, citizens directly vote for their President and Vice President every five years, and current laws prohibit any individual from serving more than two terms.
The outgoing President Joko Widodo, in office since 2014, oversaw significant infrastructure, healthcare, and education advancements, and successfully hosted a G20 summit focused on global consensus regarding the conflict in Russia and Ukraine.
As he assumes office, Subianto will face pressing challenges, including climate change, prompting plans to relocate the capital to Nusantara. He will need to address these issues while adhering to the public’s expectations regarding Widodo’s policies.