Indonesia election: why Prabowo Subianto is maintaining victory despite a likely win for Jokowi

Former military man Prabowo has rejected credible pollsters who’ve called the election for Joko Widodo. Is this a case of a general not knowing defeat?

A psychology expert says he might have ‘delusions of grandeur’ and worries Prabowo’s supporters could be inspired to protest against the result

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Prabowo Subianto gestures to supporters as he leaves a mosque after Friday prayers in Jakarta. Photo: AFP

Published: 10:45am, 20 Apr 2019Updated: 10:14pm, 20 Apr 2019

As hundreds of supporters amassed outside his home on Friday, presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto railed against the “lying pollsters” whose quick counts showed incumbent leader Joko Widodo, better known as Jokowi, would win a second term.

His team’s count, Prabowo continued, based on a sample of votes from 320,000 – more than one-third – of polling stations nationwide showed that he and his running mate Sandiaga Uno had won 62 per cent of the popular vote. It was his third declaration of victory since Wednesday’s election, when some 150 million Indonesians cast ballots for their new president and legislators for local, regional and national parliaments.

“Do you believe survey institutes? No. They are liars, the people do not believe them,” the 67-year-old former three-star general said to the crowd, who were mostly men affiliated with hardline Muslim groups.

“Maybe they have to move to other countries. Maybe they should move to Antarctica so they can lie to penguins instead. Hey survey organisations, you are liars and the Indonesians do not want to hear from you again!”

Supporters reacts as Prabowo delivers a speech outside his home on Friday. Photo: AFP

In stark contrast to Prabowo’s fire and brimstone spiel, Jokowi acknowledged his win subtly. He stopped short of owning his triumph on Thursday, saying he had seen the quick count results that pointed to his winning and that Malaysia, Singapore, and Turkey’s leaders had called to congratulate him. A quick count by pollster CSIS, for example, shows Jokowi leading with 55.6 per cent to Prabowo’s 44.4 per cent.

Political psychology experts said Prabowo’s declaration of victory seemed to be a last-ditch attempt to cling on to a hope of power. It was unlikely he would be able to run in the next election in 2024, given his age and the entrance of new candidates.

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