Indonesia’s electoral integrity under scrutiny as Prabowo Subianto set to be named president

The Election Commission last week stopped displaying its ongoing official vote tally online, sparking criticism from activists, watchdogs and backers of Prabowo’s rivals

But observers warn the backlash could land Prabowo’s challengers into trouble, as state agencies could be used by ‘those on top’ to silence opponents

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Protesters burn tyres during a rally on March 5 in Jakarta demanding the impeachment of Indonesian President Joko Widodo over allegations of election meddling. Photo: AP

Published: 1:30pm, 14 Mar 2024Updated: 4:15pm, 14 Mar 2024

As Indonesia’s Prabowo Subianto is set to be named the official winner of last month’s presidential race, allegations of electoral fraud and retaliatory investigations have cast a shadow over the nation’s democratic integrity, following what analysts describe as “one of the least trustworthy” polls in recent decades.

The Election Commission’s credibility has come under scrutiny after it last week stopped displaying the results of its ongoing official vote tally online, prompting parties supporting Prabowo’s rivals to cry foul play, and activists and watchdog groups to demand greater transparency into the vote tabulation process.

Observers say concerns about Indonesia’s electoral integrity have been amplified because of the many controversies surrounding the February 14 vote, including allegations that incumbent President Joko Widodo used his influence to support Defence Minister Prabowo’s campaign.

This included the nomination of Widodo’s son Gibran Rakabuming Raka as Prabowo’s running mate and accusations that state officials distributed government welfare resources to win votes for Prabowo.

“There is a whole ongoing debate about all the accusations of state intervention and Jokowi’s political manoeuvring behind the scenes, that has already hurt the credibility of this election,” said Yoes Kenawas, a research fellow at Atma Jaya Catholic University in Jakarta.

“For many people, this is seen as one of the least trustworthy elections since Indonesia’s democratic period [began] after the fall of Suharto in 1998,” he told This Week in Asia.

Activists gather in Jakarta on March 6 to demand the rejection of results of the Indonesian election. Photo: AFP

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