In a significant move on Wednesday, Indonesia’s outgoing President Joko Widodo awarded the country’s highest military honor to Prabowo Subianto, the presumed successor and former special forces commander.
According to an ongoing preliminary count by the national poll body, the Defence Minister Prabowo, who secured a sweeping victory in the February 14 election with nearly 60% of votes, is now positioned to replace President Widodo.
Subianto’s political journey is intertwined with a military background marked by his honorable discharge in 1998 amid allegations of human rights abuses.
Despite this, he has emerged as a key figure in Indonesian politics and is only the seventh person to receive the title of a four-star honorary general since the end of strongman Suharto’s rule in the same year.
At an event in Jakarta attended by the country’s military and police, President Joko Widodo handed over the prestigious distinction to Subianto.
In his address, the outgoing president stated, “This honour is a form of appreciation and reaffirmation to fully devote oneself to the people and to the country. I’d like to say congratulations to General Prabowo Subianto.”
The award signifies a recognition of Subianto’s contribution and commitment to serving the nation, setting the stage for his upcoming role as Indonesia’s leader following President Joko Widodo’s departure from office in October.
As the political landscape evolves, this move underlines the significance of Prabowo Subianto in the country’s future leadership.
Chioma Kalu
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