Indonesian court rejects election loser’s appeal

A supporter of losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto wears a T-shirt with writing reading “Prabowo President” during a protest near the Constitutional Court in Jakarta

Indonesia’s top court yesterday rejected an appeal by the losing candidate in last month’s presidential election over alleged voting irregularities, removing any lingering uncertainty around the victory of former Jakarta Gov. Joko Widodo.
Prabowo Subianto, a former general with links to the regime of ex-dictator Suharto, had alleged massive fraud in the July 9 polls and filed a complaint in the Constitutional Court. He presented evidence and witness testimony for his claim, but all nine judges at the court ruled it was groundless.
The verdict means that Widodo, a former furniture exporter who stands out among Indonesia’s political elite for his humble upbringing and lifestyle, can press ahead with preparing to take over the government of the world’s fourth most populous nation, a regional economic powerhouse.
The election commission declared Widodo the winner with 53 percent of the votes — a margin of more than 8 million. Local and international monitors have said there was no sign of major irregularities, and praised the vote as another milestone in the country’s strengthening democracy. The verdict cannot be appealed.
Subianto’s poll showing was stronger than many had predicted at the beginning of the campaign, but his attempt to have the results overturned garnered little public support. It has been widely seen as a face-saving measure by the general, who spent millions of his personal fortune in trying to win the presidency.
Around 2,000 of his supporters rallied in Jakarta ahead of the verdict and tried to get close to the court, which is near the presidential palace. Police fired tear gas and water cannons as a smaller number of demonstrators attempted to tear down barbed wire barricades blocking their way. There were no reports of serious injuries and all had gone home by the time the verdict was announced.
Subianto leads a coalition of political parties that control a majority of seats in Parliament, and he has vowed to make life difficult for Widodo. But yesterday’s court ruling could cause that coalition to crumble, with its members trying to join Widodo in government. AP

defeated candidate accepts
court ruling

Losing Indonesian presidential contender, former general Prabowo Subianto accepted the final decision of the Constitutional Court that rejects all of his allegations stipulated on his lawsuit on the result of last month’ s presidential race, the party’s coalition spokesman said yesterday evening.  Tantowi Yahya, spokesman of Prabowo’s party coalition held a press conference along with the representatives of the parties in the coalition, shortly after the court handed down its final decision. “As citizens heavily upholding the constitution, we (…) accept the decision of the constitutional court,” he said at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.

Ali Kotarumalos, Jakarta