Former special forces commander Prabowo to take up Indonesian presidency

JAKARTA - Indonesia's Prabowo Subianto on Sunday will take over as president of the world's third-largest democracy after sweeping the country's election with policies like free meals for school children and with the outgoing leader's son as his running mate.

The 73-year-old former special forces commander won the Feb. 14 contest with nearly 60% of the vote and has spent the past nine months building a formidable parliamentary coalition.

Prabowo will officially become Indonesia's eighth president on Sunday morning after he is sworn in during a ceremony at Indonesia's parliament, flanked by outgoing President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

Prabowo, who unsuccessfully ran for the presidency twice before, is expected to give a speech to lawmakers at the parliament's upper house after the swearing-in and before heading to the presidential palace.

He will be joined by his running mate, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, 37, the eldest son of Jokowi.

As they make their way to the palace they will be greeted by thousands of supporters expected to throng Jakarta streets that are lined with posters of the incoming leader.

Prabowo and Gibran are expected to stop at seven stages that have been set up along the way between parliament and the palace, Nusron Wahid, a Prabowo aide, told reporters on Friday.

Jokowi supporters are also expected to attend the celebrations and bid farewell to Indonesia's outgoing leader.

After two terms and a decade in power, Jokowi has left an indelible mark on the nation of 280 million, presiding over a period of strong economic growth and massive infrastructure development.

Critics also say, though, his rule has been marked by a rise in old-time patronage and dynastic politics, and they warn about diminished integrity in courts and other state institutions.

Indonesian police and military have put in place strict security measures, deploying at least 100,000 personnel across the city, including snipers and anti-riot units.

Prabowo is expected to meet with foreign dignitaries, including about 20 heads of state, later on Sunday at the presidential palace, said Hasan Nasbi, the head of the presidential communications organisation.

China said it is sending Vice President Han Zheng to the inauguration. The delegation from the United States is being led by US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

During his campaign, Prabowo billed himself to voters and investors alike as the "continuity candidate".

He has set a target to accelerate economic growth to 8% from a current rate of 5%, pledged to make Indonesia self-sufficient in production of staples, and signaled a more active role on the global stage.

Past allegations against Prabowo of involvement in the kidnapping of student activists and human rights abuses in Papua and East Timor, however, have also raised concern about Indonesia's trajectory of democracy, human rights advocates say.

Prabowo has always denied the allegations that led to his dismissal from the military in 1998, the same year Indonesia broke free from the decades-long authoritarian rule of former President Suharto. —Reuters