Opposition candidate wins Jakarta governor race in blow to Indonesia’s Prabowo

The result was an unexpected victory for Indonesia’s sole opposition party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle

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Pramono Anung (left), Jakarta’s next governor, greets supporters at a press conference last month. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 12:38pm, 9 Dec 2024

A candidate backed by Indonesia’s opposition won the gubernatorial race in capital Jakarta, defeating his rival who had the support of President Prabowo Subianto.

Former Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung got 50.07 per cent of the votes during the November 27 poll, just above the 50 per cent threshold that allows him to secure victory in a single round, the General Elections Commission said on Sunday.

Ridwan Kamil, backed by Prabowo and his predecessor Joko Widodo, trailed with 39.4 per cent of the votes. Independent candidate Dharma Pongrekun got 10.53 per cent, according to the official count that concluded on Saturday. All candidates have three days to file a lawsuit to the constitutional court if they want to contest the result.

The result was an unexpected victory for the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, the sole opposition party, and gives it control of a metropolis that accounts for one-fifth of the country’s economic output.

Ridwan Kamil (left) casts his ballot at a polling station in Bandung, West Java, on November 27. Photo: AFP

It’s also a blow to Prabowo, just as he starts his five-year term and prepares to roll out key programmes such as distributing free school meals and offering free medical checks across the country.