Prabowo quits I'nesia presidential race, may go to court over 'flaws'
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Announces his withdrawal an hour before election result likely naming Jokowi the winner
INDONESIA’S presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto said yesterday that he rejected the electoral process, citing flaws, in a move that could likely see his camp taking the challenge to the Constitutional Court.
The announcement came just hours before the election commission was to announce the election result, which was to very likely name his opponent Joko Widodo, known as Jokowi, the reform-minded governor of Jakarta, the winner.
“The process of election carried out by the Election Commission [KPU] is flawed, not democratic.... and KPU, as the executor, is not fair and open,” said Prabowo, reading off a two-page statement less than an hour before the official result was announced.
The former general was flanked by his coalition partners Golkar chairman Aburizal Bakrie and former chairman of the United Development Party Suryadharma Ali.
“There has been a massive, structured and systematic fraud in this election,” Prabowo said, adding that his legal team also has proof of foreign intervention in the July 9 election.
His comments come two days after a large coalition meeting on Sunday, when his coalition also expressed similar sentiments, claiming they have detailed evidence of these irregularities and fraud.
“We will use our constitutional rights to reject this election and pull out from the ongoing process,” said Prabowo to cheers from his supporters at Rumah Polonia, which resembled his base camp where supporters had gathered during the campaigning.
Asking his supporters to remain calm, he said: “We are not going to sacrifice the mandate we have been given to be played out or be manipulated. We are ready to win or lose in a democratic and respectable way. We ask you to be calm because we won't allow our democratic rights to be snatched.”
But cracks in his coalition are now obvious. His running mate Hatta Rajasa was absent at the press conference.
National campaign chief Mahfud, who was trying to flee reporters after the event, said he was no longer part of the team.
“I have ended my services, returned my mandate to the Prabowo-Hatta team and I will not be following them in their next steps,” he said.
Prabowo-Hatta campaign team member Amazon Dalimunthe confirmed this.
Meanwhile, some die-hard supporters seemed bent on agreeing with Prabowo's stand.
Among the many cheers, one was heard yelling: “The truth will prevail!”
