Indonesia inaugurates new president with military past

SURABAYA, Indonesia (CN) — Indonesia’s newly inaugurated leader Prabowo Subianto, the eighth president of the world’s third-largest democracy, swore in his new Cabinet Monday.

He announced the lineup late Sunday, calling his 109-person Cabinet of ministers, vice ministers and head of national agencies the “Red and White Cabinet,” a reference to the Indonesian flag’s colors.

The former general, defense minister and son-in-law to the late authoritarian President Suharto, who controlled the Southeast Asian country for over three decades, vowed in his inauguration speech Sunday to fight the corruption plaguing Indonesia.

The 73-year-old vowed to focus on securing food self-sufficiency for Indonesia’s 280 million people during his five-year term, taking inspiration from India and China.

“We are blessed with vast land and maritime territories, as well as abundant natural resources that are invaluable in the 21st century and beyond,” Subianto said in a speech, noting that the nation has yet to implement efficient management strategies for its domestic resources.

During his campaign, Subianto pledged to offer at least one daily nutritious meal for all children and expectant mothers, a plan observers say might create a budget clash with funds allocated to a new multibillion-dollar capital city expected to be completed in 2045.

In Surabaya, the nation’s second-largest city, some people expressed optimism about the future with Subianto in charge, who brings right-wing nationalistic policies and a “strongman” persona.

“Prabowo is a great person,” said Razer — who like many Indonesians goes by one name — a 29-year-old electronics shop employee searching for customers Monday morning in the Pakuwon shopping mall.

He said he hopes to see the new leader spark economic development in times of global challenges and insecurity.

“I hope he will bring Indonesia to a better place than the last couple of years. The economy has been a little chaotic,” Razer said.

Analysts say Subianto may differ from his predecessor, former President Joko Widodo, in his focus on international diplomacy. Subianto spent most of his youth abroad and graduated from the American School in London, meaning he could boost Indonesian engagement in global politics. Widodo set a clear focus on domestic infrastructure development.

Subianto chose Widodo’s son, the 37-year-old former Surakarta Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka, as vice president.

With the backing of the term-limited Widodo, Subianto claimed victory in his bid for the presidency in February, taking nearly 60% of the votes against two candidates.

Subianto has been accused but never convicted of human rights offenses during his time as an Indonesian army commander. In 1998, he was dishonorably discharged from the military; his Kopassus special forces were accused of kidnapping and torturing political opponents of his then father-in-law, Suharto, who was forced to step down after major riots broke out after the Asian financial crises of 1997.

The former army chief has also been linked to rights abuses in the eastern state of Papua and East Timor, specifically a massacre in Kraras village where hundreds of people were killed by Indonesian army personnel in 1983, which he denies taking part in.

The Trump administration lifted Subianto’s U.S. entry ban after he took office as Indonesia’s minister of defense in 2019.

Despite open discussion of his past and his own partial admission during his presidential campaign, many Indonesians are willing to see past Subianto’s military career that ended 26 years ago.

“It’s not a problem,” Razer said of Subianto’s past. “He is a veteran, Prabowo is strong.”

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