The projections after the election in Indonesia have already predicted a success for President Widodo – now he has officially declared himself the winner. His rival Prabowo does not recognize that.
The acting head of state of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, has officially declared himself the winner of the presidential election. He won the election with about 55 percent of the vote, Widodo said, referring to the projections by so-called quick counting in several polling stations, which are now almost completed.
192 million people were able to vote
Congratulations on his success have already been received from about 20 countries, Widodo continued. The 57-year-old has served as President since 2014.
The country’s approximately 192 million inhabitants were called upon to elect a new parliament as well as provincial and local representatives in addition to the president. It can take more than a month to count the votes from all around 800,000 polling stations.
Widodos party in parliamentary elections ahead
In the vote on the composition of Parliament Widody’s „party of the democratic struggle“ is ahead with about 20 percent of all votes. Overall, representatives from 16 parties had applied in the fight for the 575 seats.
Prabowo claims electoral victory for himself
As in the 2014 election campaign Widodo was the main competitor of the former General Prabowo Subianto with his opposition party Gerindra. Prabowo doubted the election victory of the incumbent and claimed this according to the news agency Antara for themselves. Surveys of his own campaign team have shown that he won the election with 55 percent of all votes, Prabowo said.
Even after the election five years ago Prabowo had not acknowledged his loss to Widodo initially and challenged the result in court, but to no avail.
The official projections showed that Prabowos Gerinda came in the election of parliamentary seats to about 13 percent of the vote.
