On October 20, the Independence Palace in Jakarta welcomed its new occupant: Prabowo Subianto, who has officially taken office as Indonesia’s eighth president.
Many Indonesians, who might have been a bit skeptical at first, are now looking to the 73-year-old leader—who is a decade older than his predecessor, Joko Widodo—to bring a fresh wave of hope to the nation. However, it’s important to recognize that Prabowo is also stepping into a landscape laden with challenges.
Born into a political elite family, Prabowo’s early life saw him moving between countries, and his youth was marked by a military career. He later transitioned into business, which sparked his interest in politics. After two unsuccessful attempts to run for the presidency against Joko Widodo, he joined Widodo’s cabinet as the Minister of Defense. This time, in 2024, he made his third bid for the presidency and emerged victorious.
Prabowo has teamed up with Vice President Gibran, creating an interesting dynamic with a 30-year age difference between them. While Prabowo brings a wealth of diplomatic and political experience, Gibran represents a newer generation in politics, appealing more directly to younger voters.
Leading up to the election, there were concerns that their partnership might be a gamble. However, they have managed to enhance their appeal among young voters significantly.
The electorate hopes that the new government will continue many of Joko Widodo’s policies, aiming to avoid any political instability associated with this leadership transition. Prabowo has positioned himself as Widodo’s successor during his campaign, while Gibran, being Widodo’s eldest son, has been noted to emulate his father’s style.
Novi Basuki, a professor at Ciputra University, believes voters chose Prabowo because he has consistently emphasized the continuation of Widodo’s welfare policies, particularly those aimed at assisting impoverished communities. This has fostered a degree of optimism about the direction of everyday life under the new administration.
With abundant resources and a market poised for growth, Indonesia presents a promising future, especially with a median age under 30, capturing the interest of international investors.
In his inaugural address, Prabowo pledged to prioritize the nation and its people, raising expectations for his leadership.
Despite the broad support from various political parties, Prabowo faces substantial hurdles ahead. The political landscape remains fragmented, and fostering collaboration among different parties will be critical. Some scholars suggest that he should embrace both opposition and support, similar to Joko Widodo’s approach. In his inauguration speech, unity was among the key themes he highlighted.
Additionally, Prabowo has expressed the sentiment that “a thousand friends are too few, while one enemy is too many,” raising questions about how he will navigate Indonesia’s diplomatic relations.
Veronica, the head of the Indonesia-China Partnership Research Institute, emphasizes Indonesia’s crucial role in ASEAN and the challenges of balancing relationships with major powers. She advocates for a neutral, non-aligned foreign policy stance.
Another core goal for Prabowo’s administration is to achieve an economic growth rate of 8%. Amid a global economic slowdown, this ambition is undeniably ambitious.
Veronica points out that Indonesia has historically sought significant economic growth and aims to bolster its status as Southeast Asia’s largest economy. To achieve this, the new government must implement concrete strategies to attract more foreign investment, given the country’s reliance on such investments for economic advancement.
The Bank of Indonesia also recognizes that consumer spending and investment will be pivotal for reaching these economic goals.
Moreover, persistent issues like wealth disparity and uneven development will challenge Prabowo’s governance capabilities and strategic acumen going forward.
