Tag: Prabowo Subianto

Who Is Prabowo Subianto, the Presumptive President-Elect of Indonesia?

A strongman apparatchik accused of multiple human rights abuses. A violent nationalist. A pious defender of Muslims. A loyal acolyte of a popular president with few achievements of his own. Prabowo Subianto has been called all of these over the years he has sought power in Indonesia. Now he is projected to be the country’s […]

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Three Climate Takeaways From Indonesia’s Presidential Election and the Vote for Subianto

Coal, nickel, palm oil, rainforests. The riches of Indonesia matter to the rest of the world. Therefore, so does its presidential election. Early results on Wednesday in the world’s third-largest democracy signaled the victory of Prabowo Subianto, a former army general linked to human rights abuses, as the country’s next president. The new government’s approach […]

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What is Joko Widodo’s Role in Indonesia’s Election?

More than 100 million people are voting on Wednesday in one of the biggest elections in the world. The contest for the top prize — the presidency of Indonesia — is a three-way race. But looming large is someone not on the ballot. That person is Joko Widodo, the incumbent president, who is not allowed […]

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Indonesia Election: Voters to Decide on Joko’s Successor

The numbers are staggering. More than 100 million people are expected to vote, many for the first time. They’ll do so in booths across thousands of islands and three time zones, hammering nails into ballots to mark their choices. And within hours, if history is any guide, the world will know the outcome of the […]

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Why Indonesia Calls Its Elections a ‘Democracy Party’

The young women and men moved from booth to booth, asking questions about the political hopefuls’ track records and visions for the country. A few steps away, first-time voters practiced casting their ballots in pretend voting booths. And onstage, talk show guests discussed how to make an informed choice in backing a candidate. This gathering […]

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Why Indonesia Calls Its Elections a ‘Democracy Party’

The young women and men moved from booth to booth, asking questions about the political hopefuls’ track records and visions for the country. A few steps away, first-time voters practiced casting their ballots in pretend voting booths. And onstage, talk show guests discussed how to make an informed choice in backing a candidate. This gathering […]

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In Indonesia, an Election Threatens Democracy Itself

Indonesia’s transformation into a stable democracy over the past quarter century was as improbable as it was remarkable. In 1998, the country was on the brink of collapse from a devastating financial crisis and protests that brought down the brutal and corrupt 32-year Suharto dictatorship. Ethnic and religious violence across the sprawling archipelago raised the […]

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Presidential Favorite in Indonesia Stirs Fears of ‘Death of Democracy’

He hoped to succeed Indonesia’s longtime dictator. He ordered the kidnappings of pro-democracy activists. He was accused of atrocities during the ruthless military occupation of East Timor. He has said elections run counter to his country’s culture. Even so, Prabowo Subianto has spent the past two decades trying his hand at democratic politics, donning different […]

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In Indonesia, Democracy or Dynasty?

Not long ago, the eldest son of President Joko Widodo of Indonesia was running a catering business and a chain of dessert shops. Now he is the symbol of a budding political dynasty and the beneficiary of family maneuvering. With the help of a high court ruling led by his uncle, the president’s son, Gibran […]

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