Indonesia’s top court upholds Prabowo’s presidential win, dismissing fraud allegations from rivals

Accusations of widespread fraud and state interference rejected by Constitutional Court in 5-3 decision

Losing candidates Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo say they will respect the court’s ruling

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Presidential election challengers Anies Baswedan (L) and Muhaimin Iskandar (R) attend a hearing at the Constitutional Court in Jakarta on April 22. Photo: AFP

Published: 9:00pm, 22 Apr 2024Updated: 9:07pm, 22 Apr 2024

Indonesia’s top court on Monday rejected challenges to Prabowo Subianto’s win in the February presidential election after the two losing candidates brought petitions alleging his victory was a result of widespread fraud and state interference.

Prabowo, 72, won the election by a substantial margin of votes, but his rivals – former governors Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo – had sought his disqualification and a revote through the Constitutional Court.

Five of the judges ruled in favour of rejecting their petitions, while three gave dissenting opinions. Chief Justice Suhartoyo said in his final statement that there was “no legal basis” to suggest there had been any systematic fraud or that state intervention had been used to sway voters.

Democracy activists have alleged that the February polls were heavily tainted by manipulation from incumbent President Joko Widodo and his administration, with Yoes Kenawas, a research fellow at Atma Jaya Catholic University in Jakarta, saying many Indonesians saw it as “one of the least trustworthy elections” in the country’s modern democratic era.

Demonstrators react during a protest against the results of the recent presidential election as the Constitutional Court ruled on the petitions of former candidates in Jakarta on April 22. Photo: AFP

However, analysts said that Monday’s court ruling would finally confirm and cement Defence Minister Prabowo’s electoral victory.